I 




■« u'A M/i f f^!i ■!"!'i! y,-i I ' 





LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chaprr....... Copyright No. 

Slielf...bla_E 7 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



WORKS OF SALENI ARMSTRONG-HOPKINS, M.D. 



Motto and Resolutions of a Little Gikl. 
A Divine Call to Foreign Missionary Service. 
Seven Thoughts in Seven Garbs. 
Record of Daily Work. 
Extra -uterine Fcetation. 
Fruit of Suffering. 
Pork and Mustard. 

Heart Echoes from the Silence of Secret Prater. 
Within the Purdah. 
Heroes and Heroines of Zion. 
In the Zenana Homes of Indian Princes. 
Record op Daily Work and Diary. (In its Revised, Al- 
tered and Enlarged Form.) 
Prayer Inspired by Promise. 

Khetwadi Castle : Sequel to "Pork and Mustard." 
In Secret. 
My Esther. 
Living Out Loud : Sequel to "Khetwadi Castle". 




J^^vJuyvt^ ClU44'UAAA}My^-r^^ 



Khetwadi Castle 

SEQUEL TO "PORK AND MUSTARD" 



VOIvUNlK II 



SALENI ARMSTRONG-HOPKINS, M.D. 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION 

BY 

REV. WILLIAM TAYLOR, D.D., LL.D. 

BISHOP OF AFRICA 




SYRACUSE, N. Y. 

C. W. BARDEEN, PUBLISHER 

1900 



■TWO COPIES HEcmVED, 

Library of Ceisgr98% 
Office of ttee 

MAR 1-1900 

gegistar of CopyrtghtSt 



55900 



COPYRIGHT, 1898 

BY 

SALENI ARMSTRONG-HOPKINS, M.U. 



COPYRIGHT. 1900 

BY 

SALENI ARMSTRONG-HOPKINS, M.D. 



All Rights Resektbd 



c^/^\'^ V ^ U 



§c tttte and lut ntnu, 
^^"bov mxA Uvt alwiaa; 

%nA ntUmt r\\ unX ^oaA: 

^00Am^^ i& 0v«atttcisiisi, 

(^00Am&^ isi tht ^xtixWt gO0d. 



DEDICATION 

Khetwadi Castle is affectionately inscribed to 
Miss WiUimina L. Armstrong, the dearly beloved 
sister, for whom the author would gladly have 
sacrificed her all of earthly life and happiness; 
yet had no power to save from sorrow, persecu- 
tion and distress, since she could not help being 
her sister. 



PEEFACE 

It is for the sake of the blessed cause, to 
which the author has consecrated her hf e ; for 
the sake of the dear Indian people, whom she 
seeks to help ; and for the sake of her adorable 
Lord Jesus Christ, whom she delights to serve; 
that the following pages have been written. 

In thus laying bare before the world the skele- 
ton of her own disappointments, failures, strug- 
gles, sicknesses, privations and sorrows, she has 
been obhged to trample under foot and ignore 
her own strong shrinking from publicity — her 
own personal disinclination, reluctance and pride. 

In perusing these pages readers will find much 
of a purely personal nature ; but, in all Christian 
kindness, they will remember that the author's 
life was so closely associated, so interwoven, 
with the lives of the dear people whose sufferings 
and needs she sought to relieve, or mitigate, that 
it is impossible to relate a true history of their 
lives — to portray truthfully their circumstances 
and surroundings, without saying many things 
that are personal to herself. 

For this cause she craves the kind indulgence 
of her readers. 

S. A-H. 



INTRODUCTION 

The Author of " Khetwadi Castle", Mrs. 
Saleni Armstrong- Hopkins, M. D., has been 
known to me for many years. I first heard 
about her, and about her ' ' Divine CaU to Foreign 
Missionary Service ", from the late Rev. Jasan 
G. Miller, who then resided in Lincoln, Nebraska, 

During the winter of 1879-80 I wrote a letter 
to Miss Saleni Armstrong, inviting her to go as 
a missionary teacher to South America. This 
offer she declined, saying that her call was to the 
Foreign field, and that she must obey the Divine 
voice in letter and in spirit. Subsequently I 
wrote her occasionally ; and, from time to time, 
received letters from her. 

During her senior year in The Woman's Medi- 
cal CoUege of Pennsylvania, on August 12th, 
1884, I visited Miss Armstrong and her sister, 
Willa, at the home of Dr. A. Victoria Scott, No. 
329 South Twelfth street, Philadelphia, where 
they were boarding at the time. 

During this visit I became more than ever con- 
vinced that the two sisters had, indeed, been 
called of God to foreign missionary service ; and 
I promised to send either, or both of them to 
Africa, India, or wherever they felt called of 
God to go, and whenever they were ready to go, 
provided they had the heroic spirit, and felt it to 
be the Lord's wiU, that they go to the foreign 

(11) 



13 KHETWADI CASTLE 

field upon my heroic, self-supporting basis. 
When this time arrived, however, the elder sis- 
ter having graduated in medicine and spent some 
months as assistant resident physician in a Bos- 
ton hospital, I was in Africa. Nevertheless my 
promise to the two missionary sisters was re- 
deemed by my Transit and Building Fund Com- 
mittee, in New York City ; and, on the 27th day 
of November, 1886, Miss Saleni Armstrong, 
M.D., and her sister, Miss Willimina L. Arm- 
strong, sailed from New York, en route to India, 
as herein stated. 

I have read " Khetwadi Castle " from begin- 
ning to end with great and increasing interest. 
Even to one unfamiliar with Indian life and mis- 
sionary labor, this must prove a most interesting 
book; but to me, knowing the ground as I do, 
it is especially so. 

The two books, " Within the Purdah ", and 
" Khetwadi Castle ", contain a marvelous exhibit 
of facts, illustrative of the missions opened, the 
methods employed, and the success achieved 
without the purdah, and opened to the inspec- 
tion of the outside world. Our Author conducts 
us in person to all the sights and scenes " With- 
in the Purdah" of heathendom. 

God bless the Author, her younger missionary 
sister, and all their labors and writings to the 
good of the world. 

f^-v k<r^j 4r"^ ^^/^, 



AUTHOR'S EXPLANATORY NOTE 

The foregoing introduction was written by Bis- 
hop William Taylor for " Khetwadi Castle", 
while that work still retained the original form 
in which it was- first prepared for publication. 
Khetwadi Castle then contained the following- 
named chapters, as they now appear, but these 
chapters only : "India", "India and Her Chil- 
dren ", " Bombay ", " Queries Answered ", 
"Khetwadi Castle", "A Young Missionary's 
Unwritten Labors of Love", "Our Khetwadi 
Castle Household ", "Seven Adopted Infants", 
" ' In His Name and For His Sake '", " Our Ser- 
vants", "A Christmas Dinner for Our Ser- 
vants", "Hinduism, Mohammedanism, Roman- 
ism ", " Patients of Khetwadi Castle Hospital ", 
" Two Death-bed Scenes", "Our Guests", "A 
Free Dispensary on Wheels", "A Sweeper Dis- 
trict", "Our Free Dispensary for Sweepers", 
" Our Free School for Sweeper Children", "A 
Banquet for Our Sweeper Friends", "Our Ser- 
vants Under Arrest ", "Practicing Medicine by 
Proxy ", " Financial Disaster ", " Our Unknown 
Benefactor", "Good-bye to Khetwadi Castle" 
and "A Failure?" 

When first preparing " Khetwadi Castle " for 
pubHcation, I fuUy intended to take upon myself 
all blame for whatever failure, or partial failure, 

(13) 



14 KHETWADI CASTLE 

came to me during m^y Indian experience. I in- 
tended to omit from the history all facts which 
would in any- wise reflect upon the character of 
others, and to withhold all that part of the history 
which would, of necessity, expose the wrong-do- 
ing of Bishop James M. Thoburn. Since then, 
however, for reasons which are clearly stated in 
the twelfth chapter of " Pork and Mustard ", to 
which work this is a sequel, and more on account 
of others who are forced to suffer with me, than 
for my own sake, I have, in accordance with the 
advice of friends and trusted counsellors, decided 
to record the full, complete and uninterrupted 
history, giving names, dates, and proof without 
reserve. I have, therefore, added to the original 
work several chapters which Bishop Taylor has 
never read, knows nothing about, and for which 
he is in nowise responsible. I wish it clearly 
understood that I do not now forward this 
enlarged work to him, and ask for his approval 
of the added chapters, simply because I do not 
wish to involve him in any controversy, to give 
him the pain of refusing an introduction to a 
work which contains an exposure of the wrong- 
doing of one of the high officials of his own 
church ; or to allow him to subscribe to a mat- 
ter which might be the means of bringing him 
into court. 

The chapters thus added bear the following 
names: " En Route to India ", " Dark Insinua- 
tions: Pursued from City to City, and from 
Country to Country ", "A Midnight Interview 



author's explanatory note 15 

with Bishop Mnde and His Cabinet ", "A Finan- 
cial Venture", "A Eenewal of Hostihties ", 
" An Appeal and a Vindication ", " Mrs. Mary 
Esther Isaac Moses ", " The Missionary Bishop 
of Indian Methodism Arrives ", " The Beginning 
of the End ", " Trouble with a Student Nurse " 
and " Friendship ". 

S. A-H. 



Dear Lord Jesus, Blessed Heavenly Father : 

Thou knowest how difficult and how painful 
the task must be, which I have undertaken this 
day. Grant me divine help, I beseech Thee, 
that I may relate the facts of this history accur- 
ately, simply, plainly, truthfully. That I may 
not exaggerate, or over-estimate, or under-esti- 
mate, or alter, or change in any- wise, any thing ; 
but that I may record the truth, the whole truth, 
and nothing but the truth, as it is known to 
Thee, God. Forbid that I should place too 
much emphasis upon, or exaggerate, or over- 
state, or over-estimate in any degree, the faults 
of my enemies. Forbid that I should omit to 
tell, or excuse, or palliate, or extenuate, or under- 
state, or under- estimate my own faults, mistakes 
and grievous sins. Grant also, unto all who 
may read this history, and especially unto Thy 
church and people, divine wisdom, and the exer- 
cise of clear, correct, and accurate judgment, 
that they may be able to discern between the 
right and the wrong, and may judge wisely and 
well, according to Thy will, my Father. In 
the name of Jesus Christ, for His sake, on 
account of His merits and through faith in His 
promises, I ask it all. Amen. 



CONTENTS 
CHAPTER I 

I'AGE 

India 25 

CHAPTER n 
India and Her Children 30 

CHAPTER III 
Bombay 37 

CHAPTER IV 
Queries Answered 46 

CHAPTER V 
En Route to India 57 

CHAPTER VI 
Dark Insinuations: Pursued from City to 
City, and from Country to Country 66 

CHAPTER VII 
A Midnight Interview with Bishop Ninde and 
His Cabinet 74 

CHAPTER VIII 
A Financial Venture 89 

CHAPTER IX 
Khetwadi Castle 98 

CHAPTER X 

A Renewal of Hostihties Ill 

(19) 



20 KHETWADI CASTLE 

CHAPTEE XI 

Page 

An Appeal and a Vindication 115 

CHAPTEE XII 
A Young Missionary's Unwritten Labors of 
Love 159 

CHAPTEE XIII 
Mrs. Mary Esther Isaac Moses 165 

CHAPTEE XIV 

Our Khetvvadi Castle Household 187 

CHAPTEE XV 
Seven Adopted Infants 19T 

CHAPTEE XVI 
" In His Name and For His Sake" 212 

CHAPTEE XVII 
Our Servants 221 

CHAPTEE XVIII 
A Christmas Dinner for Our Servants 241 

CHAPTEE XIX 
Hinduism, Mohammedanism, Eomanism 247 

CHAPTEE XX 

Patients of Khetwadi Castle Hospital 259 

CHAPTEE XXI 
Two Death-bed Scenes 279 

CHAPTEE XXII 

Our Guests 292 



CONTENTS 21 

CHAPTER XXIII 

Page 

A Free Dispensary on Wheels :301 

CHAPTER XXIV 
A Sweeper District 304 

CHAPTER XXV 
Our Free Dispensary for Sweepers 318 

CHAPTER XXVI 
Our Free School for Sweeper Children 321 

CHAPTER XXVII 
A Banquet for Our Sweeper Friends 331 

CHAPTER XXVIII 

Our Servants Under Arrest 340 

CHAPTER XXIX 
The Missionary Bishop of Indian Methodism 

Arrives 344 

CHAPTER XXX 
The Beginning of The End 348 

CHAPTER XXXI 
Trouble with a Student-nurse 351 

CHAPTER XXXII 
Practicing Medicine by Proxy 360 

CHAPTER XXXIII 
Financial Disaster ...367 

CHAPTER XXXIV 
Our Unknown Benefactor 381 



22 KHETWADI CASTLE 

CHAPTER XXXV 

Page 

Friendship 388 

CHAPTEE XXXVI 
Grood-bye to Khetwadi Castle 390 

CHAPTER XXXVII 
A Failure ? 393 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Saleni Armstrong-Hopkins, M.D Frontispiece 

Page 

Bombay Harbor 36 

Bishop William Taylor, D.D., LLD 49 

Eev. William L. Armstrong, M.D 55 

Bishop W. X. Mnde, D.D., LLD 75 

Grant Road Methodist Episcopal Church 88 

Fac-simile of Lease of Khetwadi Castle 91-94 

Khetwadi Castle 99 

Side View of Khetwadi Castle, Showing the 

Long, L-shaped Back Wing and Verandas..l03 
Plan of the First Floor of Khetwadi Castle... 108 
Plan of the Second Floor of Khetwadi Castle.. 109 

Rev. J. Sumner, and Mrs. Kate E. Stone 114 

Fac-simile of De Costa's Copy of Mrs. Mary C. 

Mnd'sLettertotheRev.A.W. Rudisill..l29-130 
Fac-simile of Mrs. M. R. Alderman's Letter..! 36 
Miss Sarah R. Bowman's Gothic Stone Cot- 
tage, in West Chester, Pennsylvania 141 

Miss WiUimina L. Armstrong, B. E 158 

Mrs. Mary Esther Isaac Moses 164 

(Miss) Sunderbai Powar 186 

Rev. George Bowen 186 

Master Victor Ernest Moses 202 

Master Jay Gee Miller 208 

The Butler, Serving Soda Water 220 

The Hamal 220 

Two Malees (Native Gardeners) in Their Gar- 
den 229 

(23) 



24 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Page 

The Gowlee or Doodwalla, Milking his Buffalo. 229 
The Matranie and Matar, Sweeper Servants, 
Engaged in their Ordinary Occupation of 

Carrying Away the Filth of the City 237 

Koman Catholic Rosary, Mohammedan Prayer 
Beads, Hindu Prayer Beads, Buddhist Nun 

Prayer Beads 246 

The Sandal of a Hindu Fakir, or Religious 

Devotee ,246 

Two Silver Charm-cases, Showing the Protec- 
tive Documents which they Contained 250 

A Double, Roman Catholic Charm, or Scap- 
ular 250 

Hindu Idols 253 

A Wooden, Hand-painted Koran Stand 257 

Mr. and Mrs. Nanabhoy, of Bombay 262 

(Mrs. ) Shewantibai Trimbuck Canaran 262 

The " Laddies and Lassies ", Officers of the 

Salvation Army 265 

Staff Captain Blanche B. Cox 270 

Staff Captain Blanche B. Cox, in Indian Cos- 
tume 271 

Two Little Pictures Painted by Frida Lantz 

for her Doctor 275 

Bishop C. H. Fowler, D.D., LL.D 297 

Entrance to One of the Bombay Sweeper Dis- 
tricts 305 

AMud Cook Stove 310 

A String of Indian Money 324 

Fac-simile of Legal Agreement, Written on 

Government Stamped Paper 354-355 

Rev. B. and Mrs. Laura Mitchell 371 



CHAPTER I 

INDIA 

India, beautiful Hind, fair Peninsula! How 
shall we portray thy loveliness? ¥/hat artist 
can paint thee truly ? Only a divine pencil can 
^race the superb beauty of thy radiant counte- 
nance. Are any mountains so sublime as thy 
ancient hills ? Are any valleys so fair and peace- 
ful, any rivers so clear and swift in their flow- 
ing, any sunsets so gorgeous, any foliage so 
luxuriant, any flowers so varied and rare as 
thine ? Yea, doubtless ; for it has been said, 
and truly, that thy sky is not so deep and 
bright as northern skies. Gray and somber are 
thy heavens. Thy flowers are odorless ; or else 
exude, from their fast fading petals, a sickening 
perfume. Thy birds forget to sing beneath the 
fell influence of thy tropic sun, which all thy 
children fear and shun as an evil, a deadly thing ; 
although in other climes he comes, a messenger 
of hght, and joy, and health to everything that 
breathes. Thy air is heavy with a fatal miasma, 
and thy children succumb to its enervating and 
baneful influence. Thy breezes stir ; and, stricken 
with fierce disease, thy children fall to the earth. 

True, no earthly finger stretches so far heaven- 
ward in its pointing as thy majestic Everest. 
Alas, that thy chfldren do not heed the subhme 

(25) 



"26 KHETWADI CASTLE 

voice of thy silent counsel; nor yet the severe 
chastisements of thy rod ! Forgetting the great 
Author and Creator of all things, they bow 
down to the creature, and worship the sun. the 
sea, the fire; yea, bulls, monkeys, serpents, 
insects, and creeping things. Is it for this that 
the sun, in anger, strikes death to thy idolatrous 
children, that the water sends forth poisonous 
vapors, and that the fierce heat consumes its 
fire- worshiping victims, while multitudes perish 
from the venomous stings of serpent-gods ? Is 
it that nature, for very shame at the sight of 
railhons of deluded mortals bowing down to do 
her homage, refuses to don her most gorgeous 
apparel, and conceals forever behind a somber 
veil her most exquisite and bewitching grace of 
form and face? And yet thou art exceeding 
lovely to look upon, aged and beautiful lady of 
the middle seas, of the tropic sun, of the pale- 
gray sky! Thy breath is sweet, though subtle 
poison lurks therein. Thy voice is low and 
tender, but it lulls to sleep with the fatal hush 
of death. Thy soft embrace is warm and cling- 
ing, enticing the soul to perpetual repose. In 
thy dark and liquid eyes are unfathomable depths ; 
to gaze therein is to come within the speU of a 
strange and subtle witchery, to be mesmerized, 
to become inextricably entangled in its vibrating, 
pulsating meshes. Thy locks, abundant and 
glistening white in the sunshine, crown thy fair 
and serene temples with a halo of perpetual 
glory. Thy thin, pale lips know not that youth 



INDIA 27 

is past, but clamor still for that which youth 
desired. Thy ivory teeth remain, a full, round 
row, all painted shining black, thy married state 
to show, e'en a great string of rocky, fern- 
strewn hills beneath thy white Himalaya snows. 
Upon thy breast thou hast nurtured innumer- 
able multitudes of people, who have passed on 
and down into the eternities, as untutored as the 
day when thou didst give them birth. Thy feet 
stand firmly in the midst of tropic seas, on rocky 
bed and coral reef, built for them by the death 
of millions of armies of tiny sea-folk — cunning 
craftsmen, skillful builders, architects whose 
fairy palaces, silent sepulcheres, strange and 
shining castles of precious stone, sohd bulwarks 
and continent foundation never crumble. Thy 
perfect form, erect and graceful still, is adorned 
with every precious stone, every costly jewel, 
every rare gem, in settings of gold and silver. 
Silver bands, exquisitely chased, encircle thy 
dehcate toes and slender ankles. Around thy 
swan-hke neck are clasped many strands of 
purest gold, suspending massive pendants, which 
serve to hide from view thy heaving breast. 
Thy tapering arms and fingers are encircled by 
many bands of solid gold, set with gems of the 
purest water. Thy delicate nostrils, and the 
whole circle of thy shell-like ears, are pierced to 
hold them, and are torn by the weight of these 
most costly and beautiful jewels. Pure silk of 
the finest texture, and of the most dehcate hues, 
falls in graceful folds from thy marble brow to 



28 KHETWADI CASTLE 

thy shapely feet ; yet so thin and clinging that 
every outline of thy fair form, and every movo- 
ment and gesture of thy body, can be clearly 
discerned through its veil-hke fabric of exquisite 
fibre. Concealed, yet most exposed of women! 
Secluded, yet most outraged of vi^omen! O 
Mother India, how fair, how false thou art! 
False to thyself, false to thy God, false to thy 
offspring. True, thou knowest not. Falsehood 
is thy native air, thy mother-tongue. Truth 
can be discerned but through the veil of false- 
hood with which thou dost seek to shroud it; 
even as thine own nude form appears through 
thine own thin garment. Alas for India ! Alas 
for India's children, who wiU arise on the resur- 
rection morn to curse her who gave them birth, 
to curse the land of their nativity, to curse the 
religion of their fathers. 

Yes, she is old and great, and has many chil- 
dren, and there is much to say about her, and 
about them. Where shall we begin ? Shall we 
view her physical aspect first of aU? Suppose 
we do. Beautiful? Oh, yes, very beautiful, no 
one disputes that — although she has had a ' ' touch 
of the sun", and shows her age a trifle. Her 
voice, though stiU sweet, is feeble, meUow, 
soft, and full of a strange, deep cadence, like the 
dim and distant tones of the vesper song at even- 
tide. It is always pitched in a minor key, and 
has a strange, wild, heart-rending undertone of 
sadness in it. Her step has lost something of the 
elasticity and spring of youth, and is somewhat 



INDIA 29 

slow and measured now. She is gray ? Oh, yes. 
She wears a crown of glory in the perpetual 
snows of her Himalayas. Bravely she steps 
out from her mother Asia's southern door, and 
wades far down into the Indian Ocean, where 
her little sister of the sea, fair Ceylon, more 
beautiful than herself, bows at her feet. Thus 
she stands, wooed by all the world; while the 
cool, sweet breezes of the Arabian Sea fan her 
right cheek, and the passionate waves of the 
Bay of Bengal kiss her left. Thus has she 
stood, ever since the great Creator commanded 
saying: "Let the waters under the heaven be 
gathered together unto one place, and let the 
dry land appear : and it was so. 

' ' And God called the dry land Earth ; and the 
gathering together of the waters called He Seas : 
and Grod saw that it was good. " — Genesis i :9, 10. 



CHAPTER II 

INDIA AND HER CHILDREN 

The great peninsula of India stretches down 
from Southern Asia a distance of about nineteen 
hundred miles, with the Arabian Sea lying to its 
right, and the Bay of Bengal to its left. Its 
general form is that of an inverted triangle, 
whose base lies buried far beneath the Himalaya 
snows, and whose apex reaches down into the 
Indian Ocean, within a few degrees of the Equa- 
tor. Its approximate width, reckoning along the 
parallel of twenty-five north latitude, is sixteen 
hundred miles. In round numbers the area of 
British India may be estimated at about one mil- 
lion and a half square miles ; as large as all Eur- 
ope, excluding Eussia ; twelve times the size of 
Great Britain, seven times as large as France, 
and a httle more than two-fifths the size of the 
United States of America; whereas its popula- 
tion is four times as great as that of the last 
named country. Next to China, India is the 
most populous area in the world. The area of 
the United States, including Alaska, is about 
three million five hundred and seventy thousand 
square miles ; while that of British India is one 
miUion five hundred thousand square miles. The 
total population of the United States, including 
Alaska, is about seventy-five millions; while 

(30) 



INDIA AND HER CHILDREN 31 

that of British India is two hundred and eighty- 
six milhons, with a growth of one and one-third 
millions annually. Of Hindus there are about 
two hundred and eight millions ; of Mohamme- 
dans there are about fifty- seven millions ; and of 
other rehgions about twenty-two millions. 

The following table, from the census of 1891, 
represents a closely approximate estimate in 
round numbers : 

Hindus 208,000,000 

Mohammedans 5T, 000, 000 

Aboriginal pagans 9, 000, 000 

Buddhists Y,000,000 

Sikhs 1,700,000 

Jains 1,400,000 

Parsees..... 90,000 

Jews 17,000 

Christians 1,900,000 

When the Aryan race settled in India its new 
leaders and conquerors differentiated themselves 
from the non-Aryan inhabitants by the epithet, 
' ' twice-born ' ' ; meaning those who had experi- 
enced a second or a rehgious birth. This rehgious 
birth was symbohzed by the peculiar sacrament 
of investiture with the sacred cord ; this sacra- 
ment being celebrated at the age of puberty. 
The aborigines were designated as ' ' once-born ' ' . 
Later on the twice-born were themselves divided 
into three distinct classes: the sacredotal class, 
called Brahmins ; the mihtary class, called Ksha- 
triyas ; and an agricultural class, called Vaisyas. 
The once-born were called Sudras. The diverse 



32 KHETWADI CASTLE 

and unequal rank of these four distinct classes 
was attributed to an inequality of origin, and 
this has been mythically expressed in a hymn of 
the Rig Veda, in which the Brahmin is repre- 
sented as the mouth of the primitive man ; the 
warrior, or inilitary man, as his arms; the 
Vaisya, his thighs; while the Sudra represents 
his feet. The duties and mutual relations of 
these four castes are systematized and very 
clearly defined in the code of Manu, All relig- 
ious services are supposed to be performed by the 
Brahmin, as this is his pecuhar province. He 
alone is the mediator between God and man; 
and has the privilege of performing all sacrifices, 
and of teaching the sacred Veda. Indeed he 
himself is considered to be an actual divinity. 

The Kshatriya is the mainstay of the higher 
Brahmin. The latter interprets the law, while 
the former executes it. The occupation of the 
Vaisya is the cultivation of the soil and the prac- 
tice of trade. The servant of the three above- 
named classes is the Sudra ; but it is his special 
province to serve the Brahmin. His only hope 
is that, after death, he may be born into a higher 
caste. 

These four original, pure castes, have been 
divided and subdivided into an almost innumer- 
able number. At the census of 1891 the peoples 
of India were divided into sixty groups, and 
these were subdivided into many sub-groups. 
Among the lower classes this caste system has 
degenerated into a fastidious tenacity to the 



INDIA AND HER CHILDREN 33 

rights and privileges of station. Thus, the man 
who waits upon your table would not, on any 
account, sweep your room; your groom would 
not mow a Httle grass for your horse ; a coolie 
will carry any load, however offensive, but even 
in a life and death emergency he would not 
carry a man, for that is the occupation of an- 
other caste. 

For a high caste man to eat with one of low 
caste, or to eat food cooked by a servant of lower 
caste than himself, would cause defilement and 
break his caste. The high caste Brahmin will, 
on no account, partake of food in the presence 
of a low caste person. If, during the prepara- 
tion of food, the shadow of a passing man of 
low caste happen to fall upon the food, or should 
the border of his garment touch the vessel which 
contains it, the whole of the viands is thrown 
away, and the vessel is broken or destroyed. 

The sweeper belongs to the lowest of all castes. 
By the people of every other caste he is despised, 
loathed, and held in contempt; he is considered 
to be beneath the dumb brute, and every creep- 
ing thing. In his touch is contamination and 
defilement. If a person of higher caste wish to 
give alms to a sweeper, he will not drop the coin 
into his palm, but will throw it upon the street 
at some distant point, and the sweeper must 
needs stoop to pick it up; making, the while, a 
low salaam to his benefactor. If, by accident, 
the shadow of a sweeper should faU upon the 
person of a proud Brahmin, the latter wiU con- 



34 KHETWADI CASTLE 

sider that he must of necessity bathe his person 
and change his apparel before he can partake of 
food — before he can fall down and worship a 
moulten brass image, or any other of his almost 
numberless deities of wood, stone, clay, brass; 
brute creature, or creeping thing. 

If, by accident, your sweeper should leave his 
broom on the floor of your drawing room, and 
you should request one of your high-caste Hin- 
du servants to remove it, he would take offence, 
would judge that you intended an outrageous, 
personal insult ; and, in all probability, would leave 
your service. No high-caste native would ever 
touch a sweeper's broom on any account, not 
even with his foot. To strike a native with a 
broom is considered to be the most outrageous 
and unpardonable insult that could possibly be 
given. His caste is thus broken; and he is 
humiliated and irretrievably disgraced. The 
sweeper is in no danger of personal assault from 
any other native. However angry with a 
sweeper a native of higher caste may be, however 
much he may wish to do him personal injury, he 
will never kick or strike him. By so doing he 
would of necessity defile himself, and break his 
own caste. 



CHAPTER III 

BOMBAY 

The city of Bombay covers the south-east end 
of Bombay Island, or Peninsula, bordering on 
Back Bay outside, and on the harbor inside. 
The island is eleven miles in length, and from 
three to four miles in breadth ; it is now perman- 
ently connected, by causeways and break-waters, 
with Salsette Island and with the mainland. The 
city embraces an area of twenty-two square 
miles. Its harbor is considered to be one of the 
finest in the world; having many islands, and 
being crowded with shipping. It has about 
fourteen miles of space in length, by five in 
breadth; all of which is available for shipping 
purposes. 

Bombay is a great metropolitan city, and more 
European in appearance than any other Indian 
city. Bombay is not, however, one city only; 
but two. There is, first of all, the great Eur- 
opean Bombay; with its smooth, broad, beauti- 
fully paved streets, continuously lined with 
splendid buildings, extensive tramway lines, tele- 
graph and telephone wires; in fact, everything 
which goes to make up an European city. Many 
of the private European residences on Malabar 
Hill, and elsewhere, are fine and imposing ; while 
on the esplanade, facing Back Bay, may be seen 

(37) 



38 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the Secretariat, the University, the Senate Hall, 
the High Court, Soldiers' Home, offices of public 
works, and a statue of the Queen, In the 
vicinity of the fort are the Town Hall, the 
Mint, the Cathedral, and the Custom House, 
The terminus of the Great Indian Peninsula 
Eailway is said to be the finest structure of the 
kind in the world, and cost upwards of three 
hundred thousand pounds sterling. Bombay has, 
also, an extensive system of quays, wharves and 
docks ; including Princes Dock, which cost over 
a million sterling. Bombay is the first impor- 
tant port reached by vessels from Europe, and is 
the chief mail line to India by Suez and Aden. 
From Bombay letters are sent on by rail to all 
parts of India. The largest number of the 
population of Bombay is composed of Hindus; 
the second largest, of Mohammedans; and the 
remainder chiefly of Parsees, native Christians, 
Europeans, Indo-Portuguese, and Jews. Nearly 
every country, however, is more or less largely 
represented in this city. In position and influ- 
ence the Parsees are considered to rank next to 
the English; and second to the Parsees the 
Banias, or Hindu traders. 

The Parsees emulate European manners, cus- 
toms, and costumes. Parsee women are not kept 
in seclusion ; but go about freely, often being seen 
walking the streets in company with their hus- 
bands, fathers or brothers. 

According to the census of 1891 the popula- 
tion of Bombay, which is extremely dense and 



BOMBAY 39 

heterogeneous, amounted to nine hundred 
twenty-one thousand, seven hundred sixty-four. 
About thirteen thousand of these are British 
born. 

It is not, however, with the great, European, 
Metropohtan Bombay that we have to do at 
present. The Bombay native city is quite a 
different place. Driving through the broad, 
clean streets of the European Bombay, through 
the crowded but fairly wide streets of the 
bazaars, we pass the market and thence into 
the native city. Gradually the streets here be- 
come more and more narrow; until, in some 
parts, they are well-nigh impassible to any car- 
riage larger than a bullock-cart — a small, two- 
wheeled native vehicle, drawn by a bullock, 
— an animal peculiar to India, with a hump 
between his shoulders at the base of his neck. 
Indeed, even two of these carts could not meet 
and pass in these narrow streets. Few EngHsh 
carriages enter to the heart of the native city. 
You will, therefore, be in little danger of meet- 
ing with any such vehicle. In such a case, how- 
ever, the horses of one carriage wiU need to be 
detached, and the carriage backed into some 
alley, while the remaining carriage passes on. 

At length the street becomes so narrow that the 
wheels of your brougham barely escape the nar- 
row, shallow, open gutters on either side of the 
road, which are supposed to drain away the filth 
of the city, but which in reahty contain only 
stagnant filth, emitting a well-nigh stifling 



40 KHETWADI CASTLE 

stench. If your visit occur during the hot sea- 
son, or during the monsoon weather, you will 
find it excessively hot and oppressive ; and, on 
account of the sickening odor, will need to make 
free use of smelling salts, or to cover mouth and 
nostrils with your pocket-handkerchief. 

If you wish to make purchases from the shops 
along the way, you wiU, before you leave your 
seat, raise your umbrella, which is lined with 
green and covered with white cambric. In 
alighting from, or in entering your carriage, also 
in stepping from the street to the shop door, you 
must take great care that the rays of the sun do 
not strike your head, the back of your neck, or 
your temples, even for the space of a moment ; 
for, if you neglect this precaution, you will prob- 
ably return to your home, or hotel, with a 
severe sun-headache ; which will not abate 
for a period of several days; and you may 
be thankful if you escape a severe or even 
fatal sun-stroke. Of course you will wear 
upon your head a double tarai hat, or a 
large pith helmet, which reaches far down 
over the back of your neck ; but this protection 
is not in itself sufficient, — the umbrella is also 
necessary. 

One must pass slowly along the narrow street, 
because of the crowds of native people throng- 
ing the way. You observe that all the shops (no 
one would ever think of calling them stores) 
look alike ; you feel a curiosity to enter and look 
about. If you are a stranger in India, you will 



BOMBAY 41 

ask your coachman to bring his carriage to a 
halt ; and you will aUght and step across the open 
gutter, above described, immediately beyond 
which is the open shop door. The shop floor is 
two or more feet above the level of the street, so 
that you must mount a very high step in order to 
enter. It is a small place of one room only, about 
ten by ten, or twelve by twelve feet ; and the ceil- 
ing is so low that your hand can reach it. The 
side of the room facing the street is all open, the 
large door having been slid back out of sight. 
There is no other door, and no window, to this 
little place. On either side of the room and at 
the back are shelves, which reach from the floor 
to the cefling; and upon these are stored the 
wares of the merchant ; who, with crossed legs, 
in native style, sits upon the floor of his shop. 
There are no counters, no chairs, no desks, no 
tables in the place. The native merchant is clad 
in pure white garments, thin and scant enough, 
but usually clean. His immense turban is also 
white, and adjusted with evident care and deft 
skill. You judge him to be a poor man ; and, if 
you interrogate him about himself, he wiU pro- 
fess to be a servant, a mere slave, who has 
nothing to say about his master's business, but 
only obeys orders. The reverse of this is true. 
He himself is the merchant, and is rich. If he 
be a dry-goods merchant, and you inquire for 
Kashmeri shawls, he will look you over keenly, 
glance at your carriage, your servants, and per- 
haps exchange a word with one of them. If he 



42 KHETWADI CASTLE 

conclude that you have money and are able to 
invest largely, he will produce Kashmeri shawls 
of the most exquisite quahty, and worth thous- 
ands of dollars. If he be a jeweler, after sat- 
isfying himself of your responsible character, he 
will produce diamonds of almost fabulous cost. 
These are hid away in rude, tin boxes, which are 
fastened with small padlocks. 

If you have thus alighted from your carriage, 
however, and entered the native shop, you need 
not expect to make any fair or reasonable deal. 
The merchant will immediately judge, by that 
one fact, that you are a foreigner, and not accus- 
tomed to Indian ways, and not acquainted with the 
correct prices of Indian wares. He wiU, therefore, 
charge you many times the real price for every 
article you examine ; and not only so, but perhaps 
swear that he is offering the article to you at cost 
price, or less ; that he is greatly in need of money 
and therefore wilhng to make a sacrifice. More- 
over he wiU send coolies on ahead of your carriage 
to notify aU the merchants throughout the native 
city, whithersoever you may drive, that a for- 
eigner has arrived, acquainting them with the 
prices which he has charged you for his Indian 
wares. The result will be that you cannot, on 
that occasion, purchase the same articles in that 
city for a less price. If, on the other hand, you 
really visit the native city for the purpose of shop- 
ping, you should remain in your carriage, only 
halting before the merchant's shop. He, and his 
neighbor-merchants, will instantly bring and dis- 



BOMBAY 43 

play before you whatever wares you may require ; 
in which case you will stand a chance of getting 
the fair and true price. Usually, however, a 
merchant first places the price of any article 
which he has for sale at three times what he 
expects to get for it. The rule among Eur- 
opeans in India is to offer one-third the price 
asked ; and it is seldom that the native merchant 
will refuse this offer, even though he may have 
taken his oath, over and over again, that the 
first price was an actual sacrifice, and less than 
cost. When he accepts one-third of this first 
named price, and you upbraid him for lying, he 
will shrug his shoulders, smile significantly, and 
inquire, ' ' How can I do business without lying ? ' ' 
No native takes offense at being called a liar, as 
he has no conscientious scruples against lying. 
If he succeed in deceiving you, he considers 
himself clever, and dehghts to tell of his victory 
to his native friends. If you discover his decep- 
tion, he considers that you are clever, and respects 
you the more. 

As you drive along the streets of the native 
city you will hear your coachman continuously 
calling out in his native language. You ask your 
interpreter what he is saying, and he or she wiU 
explain that he is calling, ' ' Move aside, move 
aside, clear the way, clear the way, for your 
lives' sake, move aside!" You put your head 
out of the carriage window and observe that 
men, women and children throng the road in 
front of your carriage; and that, despite your 



44 KHETWADI CASTLE 

coachman's excited warning, they scarcely move, 
never look behind, and only slowly move aside 
when the carriage is nearly upon them. If, 
however, your visit to the native city happen to 
be at the dead of night, if you are called urgently 
to visit some j)oor suffering one, who is supposed 
to be at the point of death, as I have been often 
and often at the midnight hour or during the 
small hours of the early morning, your experi- 
ence will be starthng indeed. 

Not only does your coachman call out continu- 
ously, and in the most excited manner, but some- 
times, and frequently, he brings his carriage to a 
dead halt; and, however urgent your business, 
you can make but very slow progress. Looking 
from your carriage window, under such circum- 
stances as these, you see a spectacle which makes 
your heart stand still and your blood run cold. 
The brightly burning carriage lamps with their 
brilliant reflectors illuminate the street beneath 
your horse's feet, and for some distance in advance 
of your carriage. Stretched across the road, and 
blockading the passage, with their heads just 
below one of the open gutters, men, women and 
children lie asleep. Your horse is restive, spirited 
and impatient of delay, your coachman is hold- 
ing him back by main strength, and calling out 
incessantly and in the most excited manner, 
' ' Sleepers, awake ! Arise, move aside for your 
lives ! " If you are inclined to be nervous, or 
if you are not, you will tremble for the result. 
It seems to you at every moment that the pros- 



BOMBAY 45 

trate forms of men, women and children must 
surely be trampled under the feet of your rest- 
less horse; and that your carriage wheels will 
pass over them, mangling and crushing their 
bodies. 

You inquire why these people have made 
their beds on the public thoroughfare, in these 
filthy, narrow streets. It is because they have 
no better couch upon which to rest their weary 
bodies. Their little, unventilated, close, win- 
dow less rooms, where the cooking for the family 
meal has been done in the late evening, is too 
small, too hot, too suffocating to be endured. 
Perhaps there is a large family, and only one small 
room for all; they must, therefore, sleep upon 
the streets. It is the only alternative — not a 
matter of choice or preference, but one of dire 
necessity. 

Such is Bombay Native city from the outside. 



CHAPTER IV 

QUERIES ANSWERED 

Why did I go to India in the beginning ? 
That is an ahnost universal question. Wherever 
I go the people begin to inquire how it happened 
that I first made up my mind to go off to India 
as a missionary. 

The limits of this small work do not permit a 
fuU and exhaustive reply. Certain it is that I 
did not go to India from choice or preference; 
nor was I, at first, willing to go at all. I went 
because I heard a divine voice calling me to 
foreign missionary service. Because that, away 
down in the depths of my soul, I was made to 
know that " woe is me if I " go not. It cost 
me a struggle of three years' duration. Indeed, 
it well-nigh cost me my reason and my Hfe. 
Had I persistently refused to obey the divine 
summons, I know and am sure that it would 
have cost me my soul. When, at length, I did 
consent to go, I did so unwillingly ; but the dear 
Lord afterward made me wiUing and glad to 
obey his voice. 

Twelve long years, after this complete surren- 
der, were spent in preparation for the foreign 
field. One year attending high school in Blair, 
Nebraska; two years studying medicine, with 
my own dear father as tutor; one year a stu- 

(46) 



QUERIES ANSWERED 47 

dent in the Northwestern University, at Evan- 
ston, lUinois; three years traveUing and lectur- 
ing for the purpose of raising sufficient funds 
with which to pay my own expenses through 
medical college; one year a student in the 
Woman's Medical College of the New York 
Infirmary, of New York City ; three years a stu- 
dent in the Woman's Medical College of Penn- 
sylvania, in Philadelphia; and one year resident 
physician in the New England Hospital, of Bos- 
ton. A desperate struggle ? Yes, it was indeed. 
All this because I was unwilling to enter upon 
my life work without the best possible, and 
most thorough preparation for it. 

From childhood I felt that if I were to engage in 
the commonest occupation that could be selected, 
I should wish to make myself proficient in that 
occupation; and, surely, when one is to assume 
the responsibility of human health and human 
Ufe, it is imperatively necessary that the best 
possible qualifications be made to serve as a 
foundation. If, in addition to this, one is to 
assume the high and holy function of winning 
immortal souls to Christ, how much more neces- 
sary it must be to have every possible equipment 
for so great and important a task, upon which 
must rest eternal issues. 

At the close of my twelve years' struggle it 
became necessary for me to decide as to how I 
should enter upon my life work — under what 
auspices I should go to my foreign field of labor. 

In the Methodist Episcopal Church male mis- 



48 KHETWADI CASTLE 

sionaries are sent to foreign mission fields by the 
parent board. Women also are sent by the 
parent board, going with their husbands in the 
capacity of assistant missionaries. The Woman's 
Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church employs women to go to India, 
as also to other foreign fields, in the capacity of 
teachers, zenana workers, and medical mission- 
aries. I could not go to India under the parent 
board as the wife of a missionary, because God 
Almighty had called me to go upon a foreign mis- 
sion myself alone, not with another. I could go 
under the auspices of the Woman's Foreign Mis- 
sionary Society of our church; but, during the 
years of my preparation, I had been in corres- 
pondence with our beloved Bishop Taylor, then, 
"Father Taylor". From time to time I had 
received letters from him inviting me to go to 
India, or to Africa, as I felt called, under his 
auspices and upon his self-supporting basis. 

During the evening of August 12, 1884, a 
few months prior to my graduation in medi- 
cine, Bishop Taylor visited my sister and me 
at our boarding place. No. 329 South 12th 
street, Philadelphia. I can never forget the 
inspiration, help and benediction which we 
derived from his saintly presence and brave 
words. Before leaving us Father Taylor pre- 
sented to each of us, my sister and myself, a five 
doUar gold piece, and then, folding us both to- 
gether in his arms, he blessed us; after which 
he said, ' ' Eemember, whenever you or your 




BISHOP WILLIAM TAYLOR. D.U.. LL.D. 



QUERIES ANSWERED 51 

sister, or both of you, are ready to go to India, 
or to Africa, if you have the courage and heroism 
to go upon my self-supporting basis, why, I am 
ready to send you, and will do so if you just let 
me know. ' ' These were his last words, and my 
sister and I stood at the door and watched that 
saint of God as he hastened down the street to 
catch his train, which was already nearly due. 
When the matter of going to India must be 
decided, I could not forget Bishop Taylor's kind 
words, which had seemed to me like unto the 
very voice of God. However, I did not feel 
wiUing to decide it myself alone ; and so I wrote 
to many of my closest and most intimate friends, 
asking them to spend thirty days with me in 
earnest prayer for guidance in regard to this im- 
portant matter. Meanwhile, I went away to a 
quiet country home, where I spent the time in 
prayer and study of God's word, seeking wis- 
dom and guidance from God. At the end of this 
time it seemed clear to me that it was God's will 
that I should go to India under the auspices of 
Bishop Taylor, and upon his self-supporting basis. 
Accordingly, I wrote to Mr. Richard Grant, 
treasurer of Bishop Taylor's Transit and Build- 
ing Fund Committee ; not offering myself as a 
candidate for the foreign field, but accepting 
Bishop Taylor's oft-repeated invitation to go out 
to India under his auspices. Later on, my sis- 
ter did the same; and, in the course of a few 
weeks, we were both accepted for that field; 
and sent out by that committee, our travelhng 



52 KHETWADI CASTLE 

expenses being paid from New York to Bombay, 
India. 

In accordance with the arrangement of Mr. 
Richard Grant, and the other members of Bis- 
hop Taylor's Transit and Building Fund Com- 
mittee, my sister and I sailed from New York 
harbor, via the S. S. Circassia, of the Anchor 
Line, in the early morning of Saturday, Novem- 
ber 27, 1886. 

All this, my divine call to foreign missionary 
service, and the subsequent years of struggle 
in preparation for the foreign field, is fully 
explained in my work entitled, ' ' Pork and 
Mustard ' ' ; and, in its last chapter, our departure 
from New York harbor is described in the fol- 
lowing words : 

' ' All was hurry and confusion at the last. 
We had packed and biUed our goods, and had 
seen them stowed away in the hold of the 
S. S. Circassia. Hastily dictated farewells had 
been sent to distant friends ; and the long good- 
bye had been spoken to the few dear ones who 
gathered at the wharf. Through it aU, and 
for the sake of our beloved father, my sister and 
I maintained perfect composure, and apparent 
cheerfulness to the last, despite the awful pain 
which was gnawing and tearing at our heart 
strings, and which at times welled up as if to 
choke and smother us. 

' ' When the final signal was given for all 
friends to leave the ship as she was about to cast 
off from the wharf, father pressed us to his 



QUERIES ANSWERED 53 

heart in one long, tremulous embrace, in a few 
tender words committed us to the care of the 
kind-hearted sea captain, offered an earnest, but 
broken prayer to Almighty God invoking, be- 
tween choking sobs, divine protection for his two 
girls, and then turned away — bowed and tremb- 
ling with emotion which he was no longer able 
to suppress. 

' ' As the Circassia slowly moved out from the 
shore through the harbor toward the great sea, 
my sister and I stood on the upper deck waving 
to father, and realizing that we were being car- 
ried away from him, from home, from country, 
and from all that we held dear on earth ; and f uUy 
believing that we were never again to look upon 
the dear face of our beloved father until our 
final meeting around the throne of God. 

How we trembled in every limb! How we 
struggled against the emotion which was well- 
nigh over- powering us! There he stood, our 
father, far out on the wharf — his tall, slight form 
swayed by grief which he had no power to con- 
ceal, but held up by the force of his indomitable 
will, and a determination that we should not be 
distressed by a knowledge of what our going was 
costing him. As he stood there the sea-breeze 
blew back from his pale face his long white hair 
and flowing beard. How beautiful he looked! 
He had tied three handkerchiefs together; and, 
when all else grew dim in the lengthening dis- 
tance, we could still discern, above the heads of 
the crowd, our father's tall figure, and his wav- 
ing farewell. 



54 KHETWADI CASTLE 

When, at last, even this token could no 
longer be seen, I felt my sister quickly sHp 
from my encirchng arm, saw her rush away, 
and I knew that she had gone to her cabin to 
weep. As soon as I was able to master my own 
grief I followed her. She had thrown herself 
face downward upon her bed, and there she lay 
convulsed in sobs. I caught her in my arms 
and pressed her to my heart in silence. Thus 
we wept together, until a divine presence seemed 
to overshadow us, and a sense of our individual 
responsibihty to God in connection with the great 
work whereunto He had called us, and which we . 
had undertaken in His name and fear, con- 
strained us to pray, ' ' 




RK\'. Wri.LIAM L. ARMSTRONG. M. I). 



CHAPTEK V 

EN ROUTE TO INDIA 

It was a perfect day. Scarcely a ripple dis- 
turbed the peaceful surface of the great, calm 
sea. The deep blue of the cloudless sky was 
reflected in the clear, calm waters; while the 
sun's face was mirrored in its depths, making it 
to shine and sparkle with dazzling brightness. 

With hearts and emotions quieted by the 
blessed hand of the Almighty Peace Giver, my 
sister and I went on deck ; where many of the 
passengers were enjoying the perfect weather, 
and the serene beauty of the sea. Here the 
good sea captain found us ; and, by means of a 
peculiarly gentle and fatherly manner, made us 
to feel that he had taken us under his protection 
and guardian care for the journey. We went 
with him all over the vessel, and he described to 
us the workings of the great engine, the in- 
genious devices of the machinery, and assured 
us of the strength of the vessel and of our per- 
fect safety. Neither of us, I think, was nerv- 
ous or timid in regard to the journey, but this 
dear old gentleman, who had tilled the position 
of sea captain of a passenger vessel for a period 
of something over forty years, seemed to realize 
that we were alone, and that we needed such 
comfort and assurance of safety as he might be 

(57) 



68 KHETWADI CASTLE 

able to give. The fact that our own dear father 
had so tenderly committed us to his care, doubt- 
less gave him to feel a very special and personal 
interest and responsibility on our account. 

Before the close of our first day on board the 
Circa ssia, my sister and I made the acquaintance 
of Rev. and Mrs. G. I. Stone ; who, after a short 
furlough in America, were returning to their 
missionary appointment in India. Naturally 
they were interested in the two girls who, alone 
and upon the self-supporting basis, were starting 
out as missionaries to a foreign land. My own 
heart, as I distinctly remember, went out toward 
them with a great love and confidence; and I 
told them frankly and fully many facts in regard 
to myself, my call to India, and my reasons for 
wishing to be sent out by Bishop WiUiam Tay- 
lor, rather than under the auspices of the Wo- 
man's Foreign Missionary Society of our church. 

Just as soon as Rev. and Mrs. Stone knew that 
we were under appointment to Secunderabad, to 
labor under Mr. Ward, and on the self-support- 
ing basis, they informed me that this gentleman 
was at variance with the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and with all the members of the South 
India Conference, to which he had previously 
belonged; and that, finally, he had entirely 
severed his connection with the church and con- 
ference. They said that he, and the orphans in 
his asylum, were now working, in connection 
with some financial scheme, on the raikoad. 
They assured me that if I went to him, he would 



EN ROUTE TO INDIA 59 

use all I had in his own work, that I would be 
simply a drudge in his house, and that such a 
course would surely prove to be the greatest mis- 
take of my hfe. In any case, they said, the 
practice of my profession in Secunderabad would 
be impossible, as it was a town with but few in- 
habitants, save the regiment of Enghsh soldiers 
stationed there, having, of course, its own gov- 
ernment surgeon. 

It soon became clear to me that I had not 
at all understood the situation, as it really ex- 
isted. As a matter of fact, the full and ex- 
plicit letter which I had received from Mr. 
Grant, describing Mr. Ward and his work in 
India, which letter is published in ' ' Pork and 
Mustard", I had really never read. It had 
been somewhat hastily and closely written, I 
was greatly pressed for time when it arrived, 
and could not easily decipher it. Moreover, this 
letter did not reach me until after my arrival in 
New York, when I had already met Mr. Grant, 
and supposed he had told me aU he had to say 
in regard to India and our work there. Years 
afterward, when I had spent six and a half years 
in India and returned to my native land, while 
revising ' ' Pork and Mustard ' ' and enlarging 
the work, in assorting a pile of old letters, I 
found this one from Mr. Grant; and then, for 
the first time, I read it through. 

Rev. and Mrs. Stone represented Mr. Ward to 
us as being arbitrary, overbearing, fanatical; 
and, altogether, a man with whom it was weU- 



60 KHETWADI CASTLE 

nigh impossible to labor successfully in any- 
Christian work. They told us of a young wo- 
man who had been obliged to leave his mission, 
and give up the work ; simply because she found 
it so very difficult to live in his home and to do 
the work which he exacted of her. They assured 
me that, while there, she had been obliged to 
relinquish all her own personal belongings, even 
her sewing machine. They predicted that, if 
my sister and I went to Secunderabad, my sister 
would be expected to devote her entire time to 
teaching the few orphan children in Mr. Ward's 
school, if not also to the doing of domestic work 
in his home ; while I would be expected to spend 
my life as a medical attendant upon these same 
orphans, and upon Mr. Ward's private family. 
If I should, by any chance, succeed in getting 
outside practice, and thus earn any money, I 
would be expected to hand over every cent to 
Mr. Ward, who would use it in his own work ; 
while I would never be able to build a hospital, 
open a dispensary, or undertake any missionary 
enterprise aside from that which he had already 
estabhshed. 

In addition to all this, Kev, and Mrs. Stone 
said that Mr. Ward did not affiliate with the 
other missionaries of India; and that for one 
to be associated with him, in his work, simply 
meant to be estranged from all other Metho- 
dist missionaries in India, to be separated from 
the Methodist church, and to have one's Ufe 
narrowed down to mission work in a single 



EN ROUTE TO INDIA 61 

home. They said Mr. Ward's true standing, 
and missionary work in India, was not correctly 
understood in America, either by the people at 
large, or even by Bishop Taylor's Transit and 
Building Fund Committee. 

In view of all those facts, conditions and cir- 
cumstances, Rev. and Mrs. Stone advised us to 
unite with the South India Conference, and to 
settle wherever that conference might appoint us. 

All this surprised and distressed me more than 
I can express ; and I was at a loss to know what, 
under the circumstances, it was my duty to do. 

Eev. and Mrs. Stone had spent many years in 
India; they evidently knew the conditions in 
question, and understood what they were talk- 
ing about. I had, and still have, the utmost con- 
fidence in their integrity as devout, earnest, 
consecrated Christian people. They certainly 
could have no personal motive in turning us 
aside from our original plan and intended destina- 
tion. It did seem that they were advising us for 
our own good, and for the good of the cause of 
Christ. 

When we arrived at Glasgow the rain was 
pouring down in torrents, and our good sea cap- 
tain, who had been so kind to us during the 
whole journey from New York, went with us to 
the ticket office in that city, procured tickets for 
us to Liverpool, and arra.nged everything for our 
comfortable transfer thither. I can never for- 
get, nor cease to be grateful to him for all his 
kind courtesy and fatherly care. As we trudged 



62 KHETWADI CASTLE 

together through the beating rain, he diverted us 
by many a quaint remark and anecdote. Among 
other things I remember he told us that in G-las- 
gow even the ducks were supposed to carry 
umbrellas. 

At Liverpool we were met by quite a large 
company of missionaries who had taken passage 
from New York several days prior to the date of 
our sailing, and who had just returned from a 
pleasant little trip through London, where they 
had gone during the days of waiting between 
steamers. In this company of missionaries was 
one, Kev. D. 0. Fox, who was also returning to 
India after a short furlough in America. He 
had previously spent some fourteen years in 
mission work in India. We soon made his ac- 
quaintance, and he heartily confirmed aU that 
our new made friends, Rev. and Mrs. Stone, had 
told us in regard to Mr. C. B. Ward and his 
mission. 

Moreover, Rev. Mr. Fox informed us that, be- 
fore he left New York, he had heard about us, 
and learned of our appointment to Secunderabad. 
Feeling sure that it would be a great mistake to 
send us there, he had gone to Mr. Grant, with 
whom he was personally acquainted, and laid the 
facts before him, advising that we be sent any- 
where rather than to Secunderabad. He said 
Mr. Grant seemed much impressed by his repre- 
sentation of the situation; and that he, Mr. 
Grant, had especially requested him, Mr, Fox, to 
make an effort to see my sister and myself be- 



EN ROUTE TO INDIA 63 

fore we left Bombay for Secunderabad, and to 
lay the whole matter plainly before us. 

Rev. Mr. Fox assured me that he believed Mr. 
Grant would not now expect us to go to Secun- 
derabad ; but that he would wish us to accept of 
any appointment which we could obtain from the 
South India Conference, or to engage in any mis- 
sion work which we might be able to find for 
ourselves in any part of India. He also volun- 
teered to write a fuU letter to Mr. Grant, explain- 
ing all that had passed between us in regard to 
this matter, and telling him that, in accordance 
with his advice, I had decided against going to 
Mr. Ward at Secunderabad. 

This he very kindly did; and, on the follow- 
ing day, he read to me the letter which, in 
every respect, seemed to be entirely reasonable 
and satisfactory. I naturally supposed, as did 
Mr. Fox and Mr. and Mrs. Stone, that Mr. 
Grant would be quite agreeable to my change 
of plan, and that it would meet with the ap- 
proval of Bishop Taylor, and of aU the members 
of his Transit and Building Fund Committee. 
I felt especially certain of this because Mr, 
Fox had assured me that Mr. Grant, and the 
other members of the committee, had not pre- 
viously understood the facts in regard to Mr. 
Ward and his mission in India. Since I had 
seen Mr. Grant, however, Mr. Fox had fully 
explained to him the exact situation, as above 
stated, and he seemed to be very anxious that 
Mr. Fox should lay the matter before me also. 



64 KHETWADI CASTLE 

and before my sister, leaving us free to act in 
accordance with our own best judgment, and 
with the advice of missionaries on the field. 

While in Philadelphia, during our interview 
with Bishop Taylor, he assured us of his willing- 
ness to send us to any field we might choose ; 
and, as his committee gave us only money 
enough to cover our actual traveUing expenses 
from New York to Bombay, it seemed but right 
and reasonable that we should select a place in 
which to labor where it would be possible for us 
to support ourselves by our own efforts. Accord- 
ing to all accounts, it seemed that we would not 
be able to do this in Secunderabad. Therefore, 
after much thought, prayer and consultation 
with missionary friends, we decided that we 
would not go on to Secunderabad. 

The voyage from New York to Glasgow had 
been a very uneventful one, the weather being 
fair during the whole journey. Being greatly 
perplexed by what I heard from Mr. and Mrs. 
Stone, I spent much time in earnest prayer to 
Grod for guidance, wisdom and divine help. 

From Glasgow we journeyed to Liverpool by 
rail, where we were met by the company of 
missionaries above alluded to. Saturday, Decem- 
ber 11, 1886, with these twelve missionaries, my 
sister and I sailed from Liverpool to Bombay, via 
the S. S. Arabia, through the Bay of Biscay, the 
Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Ara- 
bian Sea. The whole voyage was pleasant and 
uneventful with the exception of some sick days 



EN ROUTE TO INDIA 65 

in the Bay of Biscay. During this period we en- 
countered a terrific storm, which threatened de- 
struction to the vessel, and a watery grave to us 
all. My sister was desperately ill, so that the cap- 
tain, the ship doctor, and we all feared the worst. 
On several occasions, during this trying period, 
all the missionaries on board united in earnest 
prayer for her recovery ; and, as I humbly and 
gratefully believe, her life was spared by divine 
interposition. 



CHAPTER VI 

DARK INSINUATIONS: — PURSUED FROM CITY TO 
CITY, AND FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY 

On the morning of January 11, 1887, as our 
good ship, the Arabia, lay anchored just outside 
of Bombay harbor, a company of missionaries 
from Bombay came on board, having rowed out 
in a small boat to welcome the incoming mis- 
sionaries. In this company was Rev. Mr, Craw- 
ford Thoburn, son of Dr. , now Bishop, Thoburn. 

During the voyage we had learned to know 
and love every missionary on board that ship, 
and we felt that they were friends to us in very 
deed — Christian friends, warm and true. Shortly 
after this smaU company of missionaries boarded 
our ship, however, we felt that a strange, subtle 
change had, somehow, crept into the hearts of 
these our new found, but dear missionary friends. 

It was the saddest, the most curious, and the 
most unaccountable experience which had ever 
come to us. It was as if one's nearest friends, 
by some miraculous, mysterious power, were to 
suddenly become enemies or strangers. Every 
missionary looked upon us with estranged, inter- 
ested, but suspicious eyes. It was horrible be- 
yond description. My sister and I could scarcely 
believe our own consciousness. We were silent 
and paralyzed with horror. We were suspicious 

(66) 



DARK INSINUATIONS 67 

of ourselves — distrusted our own senses, imagin- 
ing that some strange horror or spell had settled 
down upon our own hearts. Neither of us 
spoke to the other in regard to the matter. 
Each of us supposed the other to be unaware of 
any change in the feelings of the missionaries ; 
but believed it to be some wierd and unreliable 
sense or imagination, for which we, individually 
and alone, were responsible. We could not then 
believe that the thing was real — that these 
friends, who had been so warm, and had seemed 
such true and faithful friends to us during the 
past weeks, could now so suddenly and unac- 
countably change in their feelings toward us. 
We were dazed and numb with sorrow and sur- 
prise. 

Eev. and Mrs. Stone were met by Bombay ac- 
quaintances who took them to their own home. 
Eev, Mr. Fox and nearly all of the other mis- 
sionaries were provided for in the homes of 
Christian people in Bombay. My sister and I, 
however, were sent to Mrs. Briggs' Temperance 
Hotel, where we were informed that we would 
be boarded until we wished to go elsewhere, for 
the nominal sum of two rupees per day for each 
of us. 

You all know about the great work which our 
beloved Bishop Taylor has accomphshed in India, 
in Africa, in South America; and the world 
around. You know, too, about his methods of 
self-support ; that he pays the passage of his mis- 
sionaries to their foreign field of labor ; and, after 



68 KHETWADI CASTLE 

that, they must support themselves by whatever 
trade, profession, or other means which may be 
possible to them. They receive no further 
financial aid from any source, except in rare 
cases of exceptional emergency. 

Our Anchor Line steamship did not make 
close connections at Liverpool, the ship which 
we should have met there having left before our 
arrival, and we were obliged to remain in Liver- 
pool for a period of six days. This involved a 
hotel bill which greatly depleted our slender 
means ; so that when my sister and I arrived in 
Bombay, on the morning of January 11, we had 
but two rupees in our joint possession — about 
two-thirds of a dollar; not even enough to pay 
for the board of the two of us for one day at 
Mrs. Briggs' Temperance Hotel. 

As we had not money enough to pay our rail- 
road fare from Bombay to Secunderabad ; and, 
especially, in consideration of all that we had 
heard in regard to Mr. Ward and his mission, it 
certainly seemed to us that it must be the Lord's 
wiU for us to settle right there in Bombay. In- 
deed, this was really our only alternative. 

Thus Y'/e found ourselves strangers, in a strange, 
foreign city, without money; and, what was 
worse, without friends. 

Mrs. Briggs, the proprietor of the Temperance 
Hotel, received us kindly; but we soon found 
that others in the house, Methodist missionaries 
who were boarding there, avoided us, and looked 
upon us from out suspicious eyes. Everything 



DARK INSINUATIONS 69 

was strange and difficult. Neither my sister 
nor myself was able to eat, nor could we sleep 
there. It seemed to us that we should never 
again look upon a friendly face. None of the 
missionaries, whom we had learned to love so 
well during our long voyage, came near us for 
several days. 

Through the open windows of our hotel room 
we could see the crows gather, and their croak- 
ing soon became almost unbearable. The Uz- 
ards crawling on the ceiling above our heads 
filled us with horror; but these things were 
merely incidental annoyances, as compared to 
the utter desolation and loneliness of our situ- 
ation. Had we arrived in Bombay alone, as 
strangers, not having formed any friendships en 
route, we could not have suffered thus, for we 
should then have expected nothing more. The 
bitterness consisted in the estrangement of those 
whom we had accounted friends. 

After some days spent in this manner, Mr. Fox 
called upon us ; and, in accordance with his ad- 
vice, I went to the Zenana Missionary House of 
the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the 
M. E. Church, and asked the superintendent. Miss 
Sarah De Line, for board for my sister and my- 
self until such time as I should be able to estab- 
lish myself in practice. This I did not do, how- 
ever, without first making it plain to her that I 
had no money whatever, that my sister and I 
were wholly dependent upon the practice of my 
profession for support, and that she might be 



70 KHETWADI CASTLE 

obliged to wait some time before receiving any 
board money from us. Having agreed to this, we 
were given a back room on the first floor of the 
Zenana Mission bungalow ; and I began to look out 
for practice. Of course I had no sign at the door, 
no office anywhere, and was utterly unknown. 
Soon after going to board with Miss De Line, 
Mrs. G. I. Stone came to call upon us. At first 
she seemed to be estranged, and I was at a loss 
to know the cause. Presently, however, her 
heart seemed to warm toward us, and she asked 
to see me alone. In my room she confessed to 
me the whole truth. She said, first of all, that 
it seemed to her unjust that she, and all my 
other missionary friends, should believe all sorts 
of evil things of me, and allow themselves to 
be alienated from me, without first giving me 
an opportunity of answering to the charges that 
had been made against me. She said that others 
had used their utmost endeavor to keep her 
silent ; but that she felt it was only fair to me ; 
it was only doing as she would wish to be done 
by, to let me know what was being said against 
me in missionary circles in Bombay. She then 
told me that, soon after I sailed for India, the 
kind and flattering notice which had appeared 
in The Christian Advocate had been contradicted, 
by some unkown party, in the following issue 
of that paper. That my readers may the better 
understand this particular item, I will here insert 
the two personal items as they appeared in the 
columns of The Christian Advocate, during the 



DARK INSINUATIONS Yl 

two consecutive weeks after my departure from 
New York. Even now I do not know who wrote, 
or who caused to be printed, either of these two 
articles — the one which is kind and compHmen- 
tary, or the second, which is the reverse. 

The following is an exact copy of the personal 
item which appeared in The Christian Advocate, 
New York, Thursday, December 2, 1886. 

' ' Last Saturday there sailed from this port for 
Secunderabad, India, via Liverpool, three young 
ladies who have devoted their lives to missionary 
work on the self-supporting basis. Miss Saleni 
Armstrong, M. D., has for some time been resi- 
dent physician in the New England Hospital in 
Boston, and has taken high rank among the 
young physicians of that centre. She has given 
special attention to surgery, and took with her 
a medical and surgical equipment of unusual 
completeness. She was accompanied by her sis- 
ter, Miss Willa L. , a young lady of fine literary 
accomplishments. Miss Head, a trained nurse, 
is also of the party. They will labor within the 
bounds of the South India Conference, in what 
is known as 'Bishop Taylor's work'. Their 
travelling expenses have been met and their ex- 
ceptionally complete outfit paid for by friends 
who have unbounded faith in their godly zeal, 
good judgment, and rare adaptation to mission- 
ary work in India. ' ' 

The following is an exact copy of the personal 
item which appeared in The Christian Advocate ; 
New York, Thursday, December 16, 1886. 



72 KHETWADI CASTLE 

' ' We desire to retract a personal item which 
appeared in our number, dated December 2, con- 
cerning the Misses Armstrong, who left for India 
on Saturday, November 27. They have set 
afloat circulars containing that personal as a com- 
mendation, together with certain statements 
which are not correct. They have no connec- 
tion either with Bishop Taylor's work or with 
the South India Conference. They go out under 
no official auspices, their expenses having been 
paid by private parties. No one is responsible 
for them but themselves." 

Mrs. Stone told me that the two papers con- 
taining the above notices had preceded me to In- 
dia; and that letters from Dr. (now Bishop) 
Thoburn had been received by aU the leading 
men of the South India Conference. She told 
me that there was no definite charge against me 
in any of these letters; but that, in a general 
way, he had warned the missionaries against me, 
and against my sister; charging them to treat 
us kindly, but to pass us on to Secunderabad ; 
and to have nothing to do with us, as we were 
dangerous people. She said that Dr. RudisiU, 
Dr. Robinson, Dr. J. Sumner Stone, Dr. Thoburn 
of Calcutta, Rev. Crawford Thoburn; and, in- 
deed, all the leading men of our church in India, 
had received such letters as these from Dr. Tho- 
burn before our arrival in Bombay. She told us 
that Dr. Thoburn's son. Rev. Crawford Thoburn, 
had taken his father's letter and gone from mis- 
sion to mission, and from house to house, among 



DARK INSINUATIONS 73 

missionaries and Christian people throughout the 
whole city of Bombay, reading the letter and 
warning the people against us. 

To attempt a description of the feelings which 
overwhelmed my soul upon the recital of the 
details of this unprecedented persecutioii would 
be futile. What to do I knew not. For ten 
years and more I had been preparing myself for 
India ; now my ]if e work seemed to have received 
its death blow. How could I establish any mis- 
sion work in a land where every individual, who 
belonged to my own church and nationality, had 
been bitterly prejudiced against me ? How 
could I attend any church service ? How could 
I take part in any prayer or class service ? 

Prior to this, before I knew the cause of the 
strange repulse which I had received, I attended 
a reception tendered to the new missionaries in the 
Fort M. E. Church. As I hstened to the address 
of welcome, and to the earnest testimonies which 
fell from the lips of missionaries on the field, 
and also from those who had just arrived, my 
heart warmed and burned and swelled with joy- 
ous emotion. I felt glad that God had spared my 
life to reach the land to which he had called me. 
When, however, I arose to give in my own tes- 
timony, the words seemed to freeze on my lips. 
Every eye was turned upon me with a look of 
suspicion. No heart, no lip responded to the 
words I uttered; and I took my seat stunned, 
benumbed, paralyzed, frozen; but not then 
knowing the cause of these strange, unaacount- 
able experiences. 



CHAPTER VII 

A MIDNIGHT INTERVIEW WITH BISHOP NINDE AND 
HIS CABINET 

In accordance with the advice of our friends, 
Rev. Mr. Fox and Rev. and Mrs. Stone, my sister 
and I intended to be present at the annual session 
of the South India Conference, which was near at 
hand when we arrived in Bombay. After our 
arrival, however, not a word was ever again 
said in regard to our going to the conference, 
and no arrangements were made for our trans- 
portation thither, or entertainment there. 

After Mrs. Stone had unburdened her heart 
and told me the exact situation, I asked her and 
Mr. Fox whether they thought it would be wise 
for me then, under the circumstances, to attend 
the conference ; but they advised me not to go, 
and so I said no more about it. 

When our missionary friends had aU gone off 
to Madras, to attend conference, my sister and I 
were left alone ; and I spent a large part of my 
time in prayer, earnestly seeking for Divine wis- 
dom and guidance. 

After the close of the regular session of the 
annual conference at Madras, and when the 
missionaries had aU returned, the Central Mis- 
sionary Conference convened in Bombay. As 
soon as I understood about it, and knew that 

(74) 




BISHOP W. X. XrXDE. 1). D.. LL. I). 



A MIDNIGHT INTEEVIEW Y7 

Bishop Ninde was to preside, it occurred to me 
that the wise course for me to pursue, and the 
only thing that I could do, was to gain an inter- 
view with Bishop Ninde, lay before him the 
whole case, and seek his advice and help. Of 
course I felt crushed, broken, ruined, and dis- 
graced. It seemed to me well-nigh impossible 
to summon sufficient courage to ask Bishop 
Ninde for such an interview, or to appear before 
him and defend my own character. And yet, 
what could I do ? My whole future seemed to 
depend upon having these misrepresentations 
set right, and my character vindicated in India. 

Finally, one evening, after much earnest and 
agonizing prayer, in company with my recently 
found friend. Miss McNeil, to whom I had con- 
fided the chief facts concerning the difficulties 
confronting me, I started for Grant Road Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church, where the evening session 
of the Central Conference was being held. 
Fortunately we arrived just as the Bishop, 
accompanied by several missionaries, was leaving 
the church. I went straight forward and asked 
for the privilege of a word with him. He an- 
swered me kindly, and walked on at my side, 
apart from the others. 

In a few hurried words I told him that I was in 
trouble ; that I was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and had come to India as 
a medical missionary, under the auspices of 
Bishop Taylor, and upon his seK- supporting 
basis; but that, since my arrival, all sorts of 



Y8 KHETWADI CASTLE 

dreadful difficulties had met me ; so that I did 
not know what to do, or which way to turn. 
I told him that he, being a Bishop of the church 
to which I belonged, seemed to be the right per- 
son to whom I should go for advice; and I 
asked him if he would kindly appoint a time 
when I could have an interview, of two or three 
hours duration, with him. He told me that if I 
would call at the house of Mr. James Morris at 
nine o'clock on the following evening, he would 
gladly give me the interview which I desired. 
I thanked him, and returned to my boarding 
place, trembling in every limb. 

The following morning I spoke to Rev. J. 
Sumner Stone, M.D., who was then the pastor 
of G-rant Road Methodist Episcopal Church, told 
him something of the situation, and that I had 
made an appointment to meet Bishop Ninde at 
the home of Mr. James Morris, at nine o'clock 
that evening; but that I very much desired that 
all persons, who had received letters from Bishop 
Thoburn concerning me, might be present on that 
occasion. He promised to attend the meeting 
himself ; and also kindly volunteered to speak to 
each of the other gentlemen who had received 
such letters, and ask them to be present. Later 
on in the day, fearing that Dr. Stone might for- 
get what he had promised to do ; and, thinking- 
there might be some advantage in my attending 
the conference sessions of the day, I started 
afoot for the Fort Methodist Episcopal Church, 
a distance of one and a half or two miles from 



A MIDNIGHT INTERVIEW 79 

the mission where I boarded. I was obhged to 
walk; the two rupees which remained when I 
arrived in India were long since spent, and I had 
not a street car fare to take me to the church. 
The heat was not great, but I was not accus- 
tomed to the rays of that tropical sun; and, 
long before I reached the church, I felt weary 
and exhausted. 

On entering the audience room, every eye was 
turned upon me ; and it seemed to me that every 
glance burned into my soul like molten lead, until 
I writhed within me. There are things which we 
can feel ; there are thoughts and feelings which 
do not need the medium of words to convey the 
full force of their meaning. Every eye seemed 
to pierce me through hke a dagger, every face 
reproached me ; and I felt that I was among my 
enemies, who were full of distrust and suspicion. 
I took a seat near the door. Dr. Stone, who, by 
the way, with his beautiful wife, Mrs. Kate E, 
Stone, boarded at the Zenana Mission House 
with Miss De Line, had seemed most kind ; and 
expressed sincerest sympathy for me in my 
difficult and painful situation. When he saw 
me enter the audience room his sensitive face 
reflected the pain, discomfort, and uneasiness, 
which his still more sensitive nature felt on my 
account. In a restless, nervous, excited way, 
he glanced from face to face, and from my face 
to the faces of those about me ; then, presently, 
he came to me ; and, in an undertone, told me 
he feared the sentiment against me was so 



80 KHETWADI CASTLE 

strong in that company, that it would be better 
for me to withdraw. Utterly benumbed by this 
last stroke, I staggered to the door, trembling in 
every fibre. 

When, finally, I reached the public street, I 
leaned up against a post, for I trembled so vio- 
lently that I could not walk easily, and not at all 
steadily. Oh, the pain, desolation and discour- 
agement of that hour ! I had intended to remain 
until the close of the conference session, and hoped 
that Dr. Stone would then invite me to a seat in 
his carriage; so that I should not be obliged to 
walk back to the mission. I did not feel able to 
retrace my steps, and then to return again in the 
late evening for the purpose of meeting the Bishop 
and his cabinet at the house of Mr. James Morris. 

After debating in my mind for some time, I de- 
termined to try and find the Temperance Hotel, 
where I had gone upon my first arrival in Bom- 
bay. This was somewhat difficiiLt, as I was a 
stranger in the city. Finally, however, I found 
the place; and Mrs. Briggs again received me 
kindly. I must have looked worn, tired and 
exhausted; for she immediately asked me if I 
were iU, invited me to her own bed-chamber, 
had me lie down upon her bed, brought me a 
cup of strong coffee, put cold, wet cloths upon 
my forehead, and cared for me with loving, 
tender hands. 

There I remained until late in the afternoon ; 
when I started afoot, and alone, in search of 
the residence of Mr. James Morris, hoping to 



A MIDNIGHT INTERVIEW 81 

reach that house before dusk. When I ar- 
rived Mrs. Morris, a handsome, elegantly clad 
Christian Jewess, met me at the door, and 
received me with courteous formahty, evidently 
understanding the cause of my visit. She 
wished me to go to the parlor and remain there 
until the hour appointed for the interview ; but 
I told her I did not wish to meet strangers, that 
I felt weary and ill, and begged the privilege of 
being left in some quiet room alone, until the 
hour for the interview. My hostess protested 
against this; but, finally, acceded to my wish, 
showing me to a small apartment which was 
separated from the parlor by means of a thin 
cloth screen only. Here I waited. The moments 
seemed hke hours to me, and the hours like 
days. 

Late in the evening the guests began to 
gather in. First I heard the Bishop's voice, 
then the voice of Kev. Crawford Thoburn ; and 
afterward strange voices. When supper was 
announced they all gathered around the table in 
the dining room which, hke the parlor, was sepa- 
rated from the room I occupied by a thin cloth 
screen; so that I could distinctly hear every 
word that was uttered. During the confusion 
of gathering into the dining room, Mrs, Morris 
came to the curtained door of my httle room, 
and begged me to go out to supper. 1 entreated 
her to leave me, assuring her that I could not 
eat a morsel, and that I did not wish to meet 
any Mving soul until I was obliged to do so. At 



82 KHETWADI CASTLE 

length she went back to the table, and I heard 
her announce to her guests that I was secreted 
behind the screen, and would not come out, 
though she had begged me to do so ; after which 
she sent a servant to inquire if I would not aUow 
her to send my supper in on a tray. The depth 
of my misery was now reached — I felt that no 
indignity could increase my humiliation. 

At half past nine o'clock but a few of the 
many people who had been invited were present. 
Still I waited. It seemed so necessary that all 
persons who had received letters from Bishop 
Thoburn, concerning me, should be present dur- 
ing this interview, that I did not leave my room 
until ten o'clock, when Dr. and Mrs. Stone, Miss 
De Line, and one or two others arrived. Then 
I went out into the parlor, carrying my corres- 
pondence with Mrs. Prescott. 

On account of the lateness of the hour and the 
weariness of the Bishop, I offered to abandon 
the recital of the history which I had intended 
to give, or to postpone it, teUing him that it was 
a long story, and would require several hours to 
tell it. He, however, kindly assured me that he 
wished to hear it, and asked me to proceed. 

I began at the beginning, told him of my 
divine call to foreign missionary service, and aU 
about the subsequent years of struggle in prepa- 
ration for that work. I told him minutely, and 
in detail, all about the experience which I had at 
Evanston, while attending the Northwestern 
University, and the treatment which I had re- 



A MIDNIGHT INTERVIEW 83 

ceived from Mrs. Prescott, and others. I read to 
him the correspondence, contained in ' ' Pork and 
Mustard", between Mrs. Prescott and myself. 
Then I explained to him my reasons for coming 
to India under the auspices of Bishop William 
Taylor, instead of accepting an appointment at 
the hands of the Woman's Foreign Missionary 
Society of our church. I then told him the par- 
ticulars in regard to my reception in India, the 
feehngs which I found in the hearts, and the 
prejudices which I believed to exist in the minds 
of the missionaries. I showed him one of the 
little slips, which the editor of The Christian Ad- 
vocate had sent to us on the eve of our sailing for 
India, it being a copy of the personal item which 
was to appear, and which did appear, in the next 
issue of that paper after the date of our saihng. 
I also told him about the second personal item, 
which I had not yet seen, but which was a re- 
traction of the first, and which appeared in the 
following issue of The Christian Advocate, both 
items reaching India before our arrival. 

Finally, having told him what Dr. Thoburn 
had said to Mr. Grant in regard to me, and having 
explained how he. Dr. Thoburn, had written to 
aU the leading members of the South India Con- 
ference, warning them against me, and against 
my sister, I appealed to them, the missionaries 
present, to know if they had not received such 
letters; and they confessed that they had. I 
then set forth before the Bishop and his cabinet 
the difficulties which confronted me, the impos- 



84 KHETWADI CASTLE 

sibility of making any success of missionary 
work in India, while such feehngs and prejudices 
against me existed; and begged him to advise 
me as to what course I ought to pursue. 

When I had finished speaking, silence pre- 
vailed for the space of a few seconds; then 
the Bishop addressed the friends present, and 
said that he was in a position to give testimony, 
as he had been for years well and personally 
acquainted with nearly all the people to whom I 
had referred, viz: — Sisters Newman, Brown, 
Prescott, Mnd, Stanley, Skidmore, Keen, the 
professors of the Northwestern University, Eev. 
J. G. Miller, Dr. James M. Thoburn and Mr. 
Richard Grant; and that I had drawn a true 
picture of their characters and pecuharities. Al- 
though he believed them all to be really good 
people, and Christians, yet he could imagine 
them doing just the very things that I had de- 
scribed them as doing. My accuracy, he said, in 
depicting their peculiar characteristics, made 
him sure of the truthfulness of the whole his- 
tory. Further, having been a printer, he knew 
the significance of the little slip of paper, from 
the editor of the New York Christian Advocate. 
He knew that whenever editors wished to give 
any one a good send-off, or puff, they were in 
the habit of striking off a dozen or more slips 
such as I had shown, and sending them to the 
person concerned. This in itself was a proof 
that I had nothing to do with the publishing of 
that first notice, but that it was a compliment 
from the editor. 



A MIDNIGHT INTERVIEW 85 

He expressed his deep regret that such action 
should have been taken against me, and begged 
all persons present to use their utmost endeavor, 
and exert their best influence to set me right 
among the missionaries, and in the community. 
He then came forward, took me by the hand, 
and assured me in the tenderest, kindest way, of 
the deep sympathy he felt for me, and of his de- 
sire to put me right, in so far as it lay in his 
power to do so. 

Mr. Crawford Thoburn then followed, expres- 
sing his regret at the action which his father 
had taken, and assuring me that it must be 
some misrepresentation, some misunderstand- 
ing under which his father was laboring, but 
that he felt sure Dr. Thoburn would make the 
matter right as soon as he knew the facts. 

Dr. Rudisill assured me that he would do every- 
thing in his power for me, and would use his 
utmost endeavor to correct the mis-statements 
that had been made in regard to me, assuring me 
of his deepest sympathy, interest and confidence. 

Dr. Stone, Mrs. Stone, Miss De Line, and all 
others present, did the same. Dr. Stone kindly 
invited me to return to the mission house in his 
carriage, in company with himself, Mrs. Stone 
and Miss De Line; which invitation I gladly 
accepted, and we drove home in the small hours 
of the morning. 

From this time on Dr. and Mrs. Stone proved 
themselves staunch, true and faithful friends. 
Bishop Ninde did all that he could to overcome 



86 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the prejudice existing in the hearts and minds of 
the missionaries. Mrs. Stone afterward told me 
that the very last words the Bishop said to her, 
on board ship, as he was about to sail for Amer- 
ica, were these : — ' ' Be good to that httle Doctor. ' ' 




sr;«->.-"t;."" . 





CHAPTEK VIII 

A FINANCIAL VENTURE 

Soon after Bishop Ninde left India, a mis- 
sionary from Singapore, Mr. Oldham by name, 
came to Bombay, obtained an interview, and 
extended to me an urgent inviation to go to 
Singapore as a medical missionary. He par- 
ticularly wanted a medical woman who would 
be willing to accept a regular missionary salary 
from the Western Branch of the Woman's 
Foreign Missionary Society, of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, because that branch had 
pledged a sufficient amount of money to sup- 
port one medical missionary in Singapore, pro- 
vided a suitable person could be found. Al- 
though he pressed me very much to accept this 
position, I decHned; teUing him I had come to 
India on the self-supporting basis; and, more- 
over, that I had no idea Mrs. Prescott or 
Mrs. Nind would consider me a ' ' suitable per- 
son. " However, he, together with Dr. Stone, 
Mrs. Stone, and Miss De Line, urged this mat- 
ter so strongly that I finally consented, very 
reluctantly, to allow Mr. Oldham to write to 
Mrs. Nind asking for me to be sent to Sing- 
apore. This I did without the sHghtest idea 
that I would be accepted, but acting simply and 
purely on the principle I had always adopted, of 

(89) 



90 KHETWADI CASTLE 

leaving myself freely in the hands of God, and 
putting no barriers of my own in the face of His 
providence. 

After this I thought no more of the matter, 
feeling confident that nothing would be done. 
As there was no other opening, and as I had no 
means to pay my transportation to any city in 
the interior; or, indeed, to any other place; I 
still remained in Bombay, waiting for practice. 

For three months no patients came, except a 
few charity patients, brought in by the mission- 
aries; and the missionaries themselves in the 
same house with us, to whom I could, of course, 
make no charge. 

About this time my dear pastor. Rev. J. 
Sumner Stone, M.D., advised me to open an 
office and a dispensary in the heart of Bom- 
bay native city. This I did, going to consid- 
erable expense to have a room (No. 185 Samuel 
street, Khoja Mohla) cleaned, whitewashed, and 
made habitable, in that great, dirty, hot, crowded 
native centre. When all was ready, and a large 
sign hung at the front door, I waited for patients, 
but in vain. 

For six months I kept this place open; but 
soon found that there were so many free dis- 
pensaries in Bombay, that no poor native, or rich 
native either, for that matter, would consent to 
pay any sort of a fee at a pubhc dispensary. 
They expected to receive even their drugs with- 
out charge. During the month of February, 
however, my sister and I had received two hun- 






m 


=1 


Ch 


a 


01 


-u 


o 


Ph 






<A 




o 


V 


iX, 


tH 


->J 


^ 


3 








^ 



E3 



s -^ 



.^ 


o 


-cs 


>3 


f-c 


J3 




Ch 


rt 


bD 


p 




.s 


03 




'S 


t5 


3 




O 






eg <D 
C3 5 



1l 












02 



be 
c 



&. 

a> 
o 

X 


> 
a; 


■T3 


1=1 


CI 


c8 


(S 


-73 


03 


C 


> 


eS 



o 

s 

> 

'So 



Oh 






13 
PI 



fl ^^ -+3 

O) . b 

0) 05 " 

b CC 

^ " to 

CS Q <D 



'^ 


,£2 


bD 




^ 


< 






m 










03 


3 


OJ 

^ 


cr' 


o 


<D 


ns 


>^ 


m 


CD 


d. 


3 


>-. 


o 


o 


03 


w 



r1 lU ^ 

.2 m -^ 



.2 fl 
^ o 

Oh ^ 



rQ 


02 


<D 


C! 


VC 


03 
03 


^ 


.2 


-1-3 




-tJ 


'm 


C 


"a 


u 


m 


o 

a 




CD 


a 
a 


CI 


'tS 


d 


o 


O 

I 


'3 

02 


o 
o 


'cS 


1 


a> 


m 


3J 


W 


-4-S 


1 


3 


H 




W 




w 


rt 


Fh 


^ 


1— 1 


> 


1— I 


a" 


w 


O 

-4J 


^ 








», 








a 




■-J3 




s 



PM S ^ 



bo 



n:3 

a. 

a 

-(J 

02 




A FINANCIAL VENTURE 95 

dred dollars from our father in America, which 
enabled us to settle up all bills and to start anew. 
At the end of five months I was still without 
practice, and my dear friends, Dr. and Mrs. 
Stone, advised me to make another venture ; to 
start a hospital, and a medical missionary train- 
ing school for nurses, in Bombay, just between 
the native and the European cities, so as to draw 
patients from both places. In company with 
these two dear friends, I drove up and down, in 
and out, through the streets of Bombay, in search 
of a suitable building. This we at length found 
in the wonderful building known as ' ' Khetwadi 
Castle", No. 83, Khetwadi back road; only a 
few steps from Grrant Road, within easy walk- 
ing distance of Grant Road Methodist Episcopal 
Church and parsonage, only about five minutes 
walk from the sea ; yet quite near enough to the 
native city for all practical purj)oses. 

This splendid, great building we were able to 
secure for the very moderate rental of one hun- 
dred and fifty rupees per mensem. A proper 
lease was drawn up and signed by all parties con- 
cerned, and Khetwadi Castle was thus secured 
to me for a period of one year, with the refusal 
of it for a longer period. 

The difficulty now confronting us was that of 
furnishing this immense building, but my dear 
friends, Dr. and Mrs. Stone, again came to my 
rescue; purchasing, with their own private 
funds, sufficient coir matting to cover the floors 
of the entire castle, and kindly volunteering to 



96 KHETWADI CASTLE 

loan me their parsonage furniture until such 
time as it might be required in the new parson- 
age now in process of construction ; when, as we 
ail hoped, the newly founded hospital and medi- 
cal missionary training school would prove so 
successful, that I should be able to furnish the 
castle by means of the income received there- 
from. 

In addition to all this. Dr. and Mrs. Stone pro- 
posed to board with us in our Castle home. 
They were already patients of mine, so they 
would be the first patients in my hospital ; and 
the amount of their weekly board would be 
sufficient to supply a basis of support until other 
patients came in, and our work should thus be- 
come sufficiently established to be self-supporting. 

Who can estimate the value of such friend- 
ships as these ? No words can express the love 
and gratitude which I must ever cherish for 
these two most true and faithful friends. 

Dr. Stone kindly advertised my new institution 
in all the leading periodicals of India, and thus 
the existence of ' ' Khetwadi Castle Private Hos- 
pital for Women and Children ' ' and ' ' Khetwadi 
Castle Medical Missionary Training School for 
Nurses ' ' soon became an established and weU- 
known fact throughout India. 

Patients and student nurses soon began to 
flock to Khetwadi Castle from all directions; 
until my training school numbered eight, as 
many as we required for the purpose of the 
hospital; and, as for patients — wealthy, high- 



A FINANCIAL VENTURE 97 

caste Hindu and Mohammedan ladies, Parsee 
ladies and children, Eurasian, English, European 
and American women from all parts, became 
patients in Khetwadi Castle Hospital wards; 
besides which, missionaries of all denominations 
were with us almost continuously, either as stu- 
dent nurses, patients or guests. 

My office practice, too, became very large in- 
deed, and my out practice almost greater than I 
was able to manage. 

Thus the dear Lord prospered us in our Khet- 
wadi Castle Home, Hospital and Training School. 



CHAPTER IX 

KHETWADI CASTLE 

In the beginning Khetwadi Castle was erected 
by a society of Parsee gentlemen, and was in- 
tended to serve the purpose of some Parsee 
public institution — just what sort of an institu- 
tion I do not know. After the great building 
had been finished, however, there was a disa- 
greement between the members of the society, 
the association disbanded, and the whole project 
of the institution was abandoned. The property 
remained in the hands of a number of Parsee 
trustees, who decided to rent the place until the 
association should be reorganized and the final 
proper use of the building decided upon. AU 
efforts to rent this immense building, however, 
proved futile ; it being far too large a structure 
for the purpose of a private residence, and each 
separate room being too large for any private 
family use. Thus it happened that this great 
building, though erected several years before, had 
never been used, except for a very short time, 
during which a Parsee family occupied it tem- 
porarily ; and it was, therefore, practically new. 

Khetwadi Castle was an ideal castle of im- 
mense proportions; having twenty-two very 
large rooms, in one of which five hundred people 
could be comfortably seated without removing 

(98) 



KHETWADI CASTLE 101 

ordinary drawing-room furniture; in another, 
sixteen single hospital beds, with as many chairs 
and small tables, were easily arranged. And yet 
another room was sufficiently large to serve as a 
lecture, class. Sabbath school or prayer meeting 
room. As a matter of fact, any one of the 
twenty-two large rooms in the castle, with two 
exceptions, was sufficiently large for any such 
purpose. Indeed, the room which we utiHzed 
as a lecture room, was one of the smaller rooms 
of the castle. In addition to these twenty-two 
large apartments, there were, in the castle, fif- 
teen bath rooms ; besides, in the back yard were 
the servants' quarters, the carriage house and 
the stable. 

In the castle there was one room which, but 
for its size, seemed like a penitentiary cell. Its 
two great windows, reaching from the floor to 
within a short distance of the lofty ceiling, had 
heavy iron bars extending across them at short 
intervals, thus rendering the room as secure as 
any prison ceU could be. The two immense fold- 
ing doors, which opened into this room, were also 
arranged to fasten on the outer side by means of 
heavy padlocks. What the purpose of such a 
room could be, in such an institutional building, 
I am at a loss to know. 

There was also a secret room in the castle, 
which could scarcely be discovered by any person 
to whom the secret had not been revealed. It 
was situated in the long, L-shaped back wing, 
between an upper and a lower room — the ceihng 



102 KHETWADI CASTLE 

of the house being so very lofty as to render 
this arrangement possible. The room had no 
window whatever, and only one door, which 
opened at the side of the house, midway between 
the first and second stories, beneath the back 
porch, and about half way up an outside stair- 
way. This door was quite unnoticeable ; having 
no knob, latch or other sign of a door. A keyhole 
could be found, but only by careful inspection. 
When the right key was turned, the door flew 
open, admitting you to a large, dark, nearly 
square room, with a rather low ceiling. This 
room was used by me as a store-room, having 
lamps always ready in the place so that it could 
be lighted up easily. 

The outer aspect of our Khetwadi Castle was 
very stately and imposing. It was a brick build- 
ing, plastered on the outer side, according to In- 
dian fashion, and painted a delicate straw color, 
with cornice and foundation of gray ; the latter 
being painted in imitation of its stone founda- 
tion. The castle was, in height, two stories and 
a half only ; but each story was so exceedingly 
lofty as to render the building as high as the 
majority of four story buildings in America. 
The main, or front, part of the castle was an 
immense square structure, with a large square 
veranda reaching out from the centre of its front, 
under which was the carriage drive, in the form 
of a half circle extending from the two front 
gateways. Above this veranda the building ex- 
tended upward to the full height of the great 



KHETWADI CASTLE 105 

house, SO that a fine hght room was formed above 
the ceiKng of this porch. At the back and right- 
hand corner of this front building extended a 
long wing, hke the upper part of a capital L; 
and fine, broad verandas, both above and below, 
extended the full length of this wing and across 
the back part of the main building. The roof 
was flat, and finished around the edge with low 
square pillars and heavy iron railing ; each corner 
of the house having an immense round pillar, 
giving the whole building a massive, castle-hke 
appearance. The half-story was merely an im- 
mense garret; which was never finished, and 
never in use. It extended over the whole build- 
ing, the wing as well as the front ; but could only 
be reached by means of a ladder, and through a 
door above the veranda of the upper story. A 
rather low stone wall surrounded the building, 
allowing a roomy and convenient back yard, and 
an attractive and prettily arranged front, where 
several mango, custard-apple, and other orna- 
mental trees, furnished shade; while perennial 
shrubs and flowers served to beautify the whole 
place. 

Had Khetwadi Castle been planned and built 
expressly for me, and intended to serve the pur- 
pose of a home, private hospital for women and 
children, medical missionary training school for 
nurses, and a free dispensary and school for 
sweepers, such as mine, and in a country hke 
India, it could scarcely have been more suitably, 
conveniently, or wisely arranged. I often re- 



106 KHETWADI CASTLE 

marked that it seemed as if it had been made 
on purpose for us ; for every room just seemed 
suited to the use to which we appropriated it. 
Indeed, it almost seems as if it were so built and 
so intended, when we remember that, after our 
hospital was closed and we left Bombay, the cas- 
tle could not again be rented ; and was, later on, 
torn down and a smaller building erected in its 
place. 



CHAPTEE X 

A RENEWAL OF HOSTILITIES 

After our beloved Bishop Ninde, and his beauti- 
ful daughter, had set sail from Bombay for Amer- 
ica, the missionaries of Bombay, without an 
exception, and the Methodist people of that city 
seemed, for a time, to have forgotten their pre- 
judicies against us, and were kind, courteous, 
and considerate toward my sister and myself, 
making us feel quite at home among them. 

When Mr. Oldham wrote to Mrs. Nind, asking 
that I be appointed medical missionary in Singa- 
pore, she wrote a very emphatic and decisive 
refusal to give her consent to any such appoint- 
ment; and, not only so, but she also wrote, as 
wiU be seen presently, to Eev. Mr. Eudisill, of Mad- 
ras. This latter letter, as wiU also be inferred 
from Mrs. Stone's letter to Bishop Thoburn, was 
freely and extensively circulated among Metho- 
dist missionaries throughout India, greatly to 
my damage. About this time Bishop Thoburn 
sent his second installment of official letters to 
many, if not to aU, of the most influential mem- 
bers of the South India Conference, charging me 
with debt and dishonesty. 

Before we sailed from New York, I received 
news from Washington that father's pension was 
about to be granted. On the strength of this 

(111) 



112 KHETWADI CASTLE 

assurance, I wrote letters to each of the friends 
to whom I was indebted, in which I told theni to 
find enclosed a check for the amount due. All 
these letters I signed myself, and, addressing the 
envelopes, gave them into father's hands, so that 
he might enclose the checks, as explained in the 
last chapter of " Pork and Mustard ". 

From the time of our arrival in India, before 
settling in Khetwadi Castle, I had been running 
in debt for the board of my sister and myself ; 
but father had received his pension, paid up aU 
our debts in America, and sent us several hun- 
dred doUars. All this occurred before Dr. Tho- 
burn wrote his second installment of official let- 
ters charging me with debt ; so that, when these 
letters reached India, we were not at all in debt. 

It was in reply to these official letters from 
Bishop Thoburn that my dear patient, Mrs. Kate 
E. Stone, wife of the Rev. J. Sumner Stone, M.D., 
who was then my pastor, wrote to Bishop Tho- 
burn the fuU, and exhaustive letter, which ap- 
pears in the following chapter. 




REV. J. Sl'MNKR STONE. M. 1).. AM) .MRS. K.VTE E. STONE 



CHAPTEE XI 

AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 
(From Mrs. Kate E. Stone to Rev. James M. Thoburn, D.D.) 

Bombay, July 11, 1887. 
My Dear Dr. Thohurn : 

I am writing you to-day concerning Dr. Arm- 
strong and her sister. Your official letter reached 
us last week, and I feel I owe it to you to write 
all I know of these ladies. 

Most unfortunately for them, and I am sure 
with distress to yourself, you have met not their 
friends, but those who, if not enemies, have 
known little or nothing of them. 

You were perfectly right in warning the mis- 
sion against one you thought dangerous; but. 
Dr. Thoburn, don't you think you should have 
had more definite charges to warrant your writ- 
ing an official letter ? 

I know it was asked of you, and not voluntary 
on your part, and not written without some in- 
vestigation. But, Dr. Thoburn, had it been your 
sister's character so impunged, would it have 
been too long to have waited for a letter from 
one of so unimpeachable character as Eev. J, G. 
Miller, to whom we referred you ? We referred 
you to him not because we could refer to none 
other, but because he had known her longer 
and better, and could have most exhaustively 
answered your scruples. 

(115) 



116 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Don't think, dear Dr. Thoburn, that I am 
taking a stand against you — 1 have most genuine 
appreciation of your judgment, and I love you 
as a father; but I am here in the same house 
with Dr. Armstrong, I love her and have con- 
fidence in her ; I have had opportunity in more 
ways than one of learning her history; and, 
knowing so much, I am able as perhaps no 
other can be, to detect the shallowness of the 
charges against her. I think I owe it to you as 
well as to her to sift the charges and show you 
how httle they amount to, although they read 
so strongly. 

I know there is no one in all the world who 
will more gladly rectify a mistake and right an 
unintentional wrong than yourself. 

In the first place, Dr. Thoburn, you know it 
is exceedingly difiicult to fight a rumor, and the 
character of a Christian worker who brings un- 
exceptional testimonials ought not to be im- 
peached by such. 

The general charges of dishonesty and untruth- 
fulness seem to be mere rumors. 

The charge of debt to Dr. Kidder is the only 
direct and authenticated charge that has reached 
India. Dr. Armstrong did owe five hundred 
doUars to the Educational Fund, but she thought 
it was fully discharged when she came as a mis- 
sionary. * I send you a copy of her notes to Dr. 

*Iti8 specified in the document referred to as follows : "In 
the event of my entering and continuing in the foreign mission- 
ary work of the M. E. Church neither interest or principal is to 
be charged on my loans." 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 117 

Kidder, and the conditions of the loans made. 
Dr. Kidder probably forgets that Dr. Armstrong 
wrote him immediately after her graduation and 
thanked him for his kindness and help ; in her 
letter she stated when she expected to leave for 
India. 

Just before leaving America she v/rote to Dr. 
Kidder and left the directed letter to be forwarded 
to him, and until your letter came she did not 
know he had not received it. Her hand is so 
crippled (from constant use of the pen in years 
agone) that she cannot write at all now. Had 
she been able to write I think the case would 
long since have been straightened out. 

2nd. Eumor of her indebtedness in Philadel- 
phia : Dr. Armstrong was in debt to friends who 
had again and again rendered her assistance ; but 
every debt was paid, or arranged to be paid, 
before she sailed. I have seen her receipts and 
with them have come the kindest of letters 
expressing affection for her, interest in her 
work, and surprise at so early payment ; for 
almost if not all her debts were contracted with 
a full understanding that they would not be paid 
until she was able. There are none to whom 
she would more confidently refer you than her 
supposed creditors. I enclose copies of letters 
received from them. 

3rd. Charges of untruthfulness: Can you 
authenticate any ? Her circular sent to Dr. 
Kidder was not a circular but a stenographic 
letter. Her hand (from writer's cramp) was 



118 KHETWADI CASTLE 

then giving ^way. She thinks it did not read 
exactly as your letter gives it, but such a state- 
ment is not without foundation. Overtures were 
made to her by those whom she at least con- 
sidered representatives of Boards. A Baptist 
Church in New York City offered to send her. 
From an Episcopal Church in Philadelphia she 
received what she thought an unequivocal call: 
— A lady (she forgets her name) representing 
herself as a member of the Mission Board of 
such Church called, in her official capacity, up- 
on Dr. Armstrong. She told her that two of 
their missionaries had failed them and asked if 
Dr. Armstrong and her sister would go in their 
places. The next call came through Dr. Bodley, 
Dean of the College, and Dr. Armstrong certainly 
considered it official. Dr. Bodley called Dr. 
Armstrong into her room and told her that she 
had received letters from the Missionary Board 
of the Methodist Church South asking for Medi- 
cal Missionaries, and asked her if she would 
accept the call. Her father received a call for 
her from a Presbyterian Church Board in Omaha, 
which Board agreed to send her, her sister, and 
her nurse. She can't send names to authenti- 
cate this, but could in a few months, or as soon 
as it could be got from America. Bishop War- 
ren, on the train between Plattsmouth and Lin- 
coln, interviewed her and asked her to go as a 
missionary to the Freedmen in the South. This 
was in the year that the Nebraska Annual Con- 
ference was held in Nebraska City. Bishop 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 119 

Warren will remember. She received through 
Mrs. Newman an official invitation to go to Salt 
Lake City. She received from Bishop Taylor 
several years ago an invitation to go to South 
America. She received a written application 
from Mrs. Alderman, Secretary of the New 
England Branch of the Woman's Foreign Mis- 
sionary Society, to take Dr. Swain's place in 
North India. An authenticated copy of Mrs. 
Alderman's letter I enclose. Miss Belle Hart, 
Secretary of the Baltimore Branch, pressed her 
to go to China, but offered to send her to 
India if such were her preference. This was 
in January, 1886. Dr. Armstrong asked for 
an accompanying nurse, and Miss Hart said 
that as far as in her official capacity she could, 
she would promise to send a nurse with her. 
She (Dr. Armstrong) spoke to Miss Hart about 
her sister, and Miss Hart said that she couldn't 
promise authoritatively, but as far as it was in 
her power she would assure her that her sister 
should f oUow her when fully prepared. Immedi- 
ately after Dr. Armstrong's graduation she was 
interviewed by Mrs. Price of Philadelphia. 
This was in March or April of 1885. Mrs. 
Price was chairman of the Committee on Can- 
didates — of the Philadelphia Branch of the 
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. Mrs. 
Price urged her to send in her application to 
that Branch immediately, saying, ' ' You belong 
to us, having graduated here and holding your 
church membership in Philadelphia." In the 



120 KHETWADI CASTLE 

summer of 1886 the Corresponding Secretary 
of one of the Western Branches (Miss M. H. 
Walters, now missionary in Salt Lake City) 
spent several weeks with Dr. Armstrong, and 
repeatedly expressed a wish that she go out 
under that Branch. 

Bishop Taylor sent her several letters inviting 
her to. work in India, as well as elsewhere, and 
after the last General Conference he called upon 
her and told her that at any time he would be 
ready to send her, or herself and sister. Mrs. 
Hartsock of Baltimore Branch is an earnest 
friend of Dr. Armstrong, and she refers you to 
her. I enclose a letter from Mrs. Keen. Dr. 
Armstrong does not boast of these things, but 
these citations wiU show that she had a little 
ground for making such a statement, especially 
in a letter to intimate friends who know much 
of her history. 

Dr. Bodley's charges do not harmonize with a 
letter which I send you.* I do not think her 
words were mahcious, but I think that she had 
read Mrs. Newman's letter and account of Dr. 
Armstrong's hfe. She knew that there were 
mistakes made in this letter, and thinking Dr. 
Armstrong was responsible for its pubMcation 
and false statements, she had no other conclusion 
but that Dr. Armstrong was untruthful. Mrs. 
Newman's letter even made Doctor graduate at 
a wrong time. Dr. Armstrong was in no way 
responsible for Mrs. Newman's letter. She 
received the manuscript and word of its proposed 

*See Chapter XV, in "Pork and Mustard." 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 121 

publication from Mrs. Newman. She immedi- 
ately wrote correcting mistakes, but received a 
letter (I send you a copy)* telling her to her dis- 
may that the letter had been published and cir- 
culated before her corrections had been received. 
What could she do ? Mrs. Newman has been, 
and is, her warmest friend, but she depended on 
her memory for her data. 

I have answered everything I think but Mrs. 
Alderman's letter attached to your official letter. 
The " Resident Physician " whom Mrs. Alderman 
interviewed was the self- same Dr. Whitney to 
whom she referred in her last sentence. The term 
of the physicians in the New England Hospital is 
not of long duration, and there is thus continu- 
ous change. Dr. Whitney's term was almost 
ended when Dr. Armstrong entered. Dr. Whit- 
ney was younger than Dr. Armstrong, a scoffer 
of religion and was very unfriendly. Her spite 
was augmented by a difference of opinion regard- 
ing the treatment of a patient, Mrs. Gardner of 
Hotel Berkely, Boston, to whom Dr. Armstrong 
refers you, and a letter from whom I enclose. 
The Resident Physician during almost the whole 
of Dr. Armstrong's term, was Dr. M. E. Pagel- 
sen. She refers you to her, and I enclose a let- 
ter from her. She refers you also to Dr. Hobart, 
who is either at the New England Hospital, or 
can be reached by a letter forwarded from there. 

Dr. Bodley, Dean of the Woman's Medical 
College of Philadelphia, would satisfy you that 
at least one of Dr. Whitney's charges, that of 

* See Chapter XXI, in " Pork and Mustard." 



122 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Medical incapacity, is absolutely false. In regard 
to Dr. AriQstrong's soliciting the Woman's For- 
eign Missionary Society to accept her, since her ar- 
rival in India, I will say, Dr. Armstrong has not 
made one such application. At Dr. Stone's urgent 
and repeated request, she consented to allow him 
to write to Mrs. Skidmore, and some time after, at 
our renewed soUcitation, she wrote or dictated a 
letter to Miss Belle Hart, expressing her willing- 
ness to go under the Board. She did not do this 
until she knew her debts had all been paid, until 
her work in Bombay was opening out nicely, and 
when much pressure was brought to bear upon her 
by myself, my husband, Miss De Line, Miss Lay- 
ton and others. We thought that the Methodist 
Church should have the honor and advantage of 
her work. Her work is opening up grandly, 
and has promise of being a mighty agency for 
the advancement of the Master's cause. Dr. 
Armstrong is not narrow minded, and is a help 
in every department of our work. The letter I 
send you is the one of Mrs. Alderman's, which 
Dr. Armstrong showed to Brother Oldham. She 
did not request him to ask for her for Singapore, 
and but partially consented after several inter- 
views, during which he much pressed the mat- 
ter, as he will testify. She knows of no other 
application. The Nizam's minister visited her 
at the house of Miss De Line, in reference to her 
opening out her work in Hyderabad City. Her 
work in Bombay has every promise of success. 
She is well located, and is getting into practice. 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 123 

The private hospital is designed to furnish the 
basis for the training school, though it is hoped 
to make it self-supporting. Dr. Armstrong 
feels keenly the attacks made upon her, but she 
is not in the least embittered, nor has she lost 
confidence in the God, who is able to bring to 
pass her vindication. 

My dear Dr. Thoburn, I dislike exceedingly to 
write such a letter, but don't you think after 
writing as you have, you owe it to yourself, to 
her and to the Master's cause, to make a thor- 
ough and exhaustive investigation, and give her 
the full benefit of her defence ? 

Her work in India may be much interfered 
with if she has to bear such suspicion, I send 
you addresses of her friends, with those marked 
by a star who have been her creditors. She 
has many more letters and references, but I 
select these. I think your wife boarded with 
the Mrs. Kirby referred to, when she was at 
college. I trust you will find reason to change 
your opinion of Dr. Armstrong, and if so, I 
know you will most eagerly undo any wrongs 
done her. 

With most affectionate regards to Mrs. Tho- 
burn and yourself, 

Very sincerely, 

K. E. Stone. 



124 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Here follows the list of names and addresses 
referred to in the foregoing letter : 

Dr. Mary F. Hobart, New England Hospital, 
Eoxbury District, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Dr. M. E. Pagelsen, New England Hospital, 
Eoxbury District, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Mrs. Ellen K. Gardner, Hotel Berkley, Boston, 
Massachusetts. 

Mrs. Mary Patterson Manly, Waban Cottage, 
Wellesley College, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Dr. Sarah M. Wilbur, A.M., Westerly, Rhode 
Island. 

Dr. Mary N. Baker, 803 Eighteenth Street, 
New York City. 

*Dr. A. Victoria Scott, 329 South Twelfth 
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Mrs. C. G. Boughton, 1118 Market Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Mrs. George Griffin, 2011 North Twelfth 
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

*Dr. Mary J. S. Dixon, 1603 Girard Avenue, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Mrs. Dr. Kirby, 606 North Broad Street, Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania. 

*Miss Sarah R. Bowman, West Chester, Penn- 
sylvania. 

Mrs. Mary E. Hartsock, 99 Mulberry Street, 
Baltimore, Maryland. 

Mrs. La Fetra, Temperance Cafe, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Miss Sarepta Gould, Berville, Michigan. 

*I. T. Martin, Esq., 1514 Farnham Street, 
Davenport, Iowa, 

Eev. Samuel W. Heald, Care Mr. I. T. Martin, 
Davenport, Iowa. 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 125 

Mrs. Mattie B. Power, Second and High 
Streets, Keokuk, Iowa. 

Mrs. I. S. D. Spurlock, Plattsmouth, Nebraska. 

Mrs. D. C. Fleming, Weeping Water, Nebraska. 

Mrs. David Newman, 1724 L Street, Lincobi, 
Nebraska. 

Dr. Charlotte N. Norton, 1730 D Street, Lin- 
coln, Nebraska. 

Mrs. (Eev.) E. M. J. Cooly, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Mrs. M. E. Eoberts (widow), Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Mrs. Sarepta Geiger, Lincoln, Nebraska. 

*Kev. J. G. Miller, South Pasadena, California, 



P. S. Since my "vindication" has been in 
readiness to be sent to you a letter touching the 
subject has been received from Mrs. M. C. Nind.f 
I send a copy of this letter in the same envelope 
with Mrs. Alderman's letter. What do you 
think of the comparison ? 

I shall not attempt to fully answer Mrs. Alder- 
man's statements of "romance", etc. I could 
do so, I think, most satisfactorily, for the proofs 
are in my hands, with even the papers made out 
by the Homes from which the children were 
taken, and other papers signed by the parties to 
whom the children were consigned. It is an 
easily authenticated "romance", and the "truth" 
of it can be easily established. Mrs. Alderman's 
statements are at least not strictly accurate. 
Dr. Armstrong took eleven children at the one 
time, three from Philadelphia, eight from Chi- 

f This Mrs. Mary C. Kind is not the wife of Bishop W. X. 
Ninde, nor is she a relative of his. 



126 KHETWADI CASTLE 

cago. She slept not at all on the train, and ate 
but once a day when the children were sleeping. 
Memory is an exceedingly treacherous thing to 
depend upon, and it is not improbable that Mrs. 
Alderman's memory has made it appear to her 
that such statements were made as she repre- 
sents in her letter to Mrs. Nind. 

Doubtless in this way could be also explained 
her statements of " not wanting Dr. Arm- 
strong", calling ''as a matter of courtesy". 
She probably has forgotten the letter I send, but 
it is a rather emphatic denial to say, ' ' It is an 
utter and unmitigated falsehood ". 

Dr. Armstrong spent the first night of her 
journey westward with Mrs. Hartsock in Balti- 
more, she spent also one night in Chicago. I 
cannot think it credible that any one could be 
tempted to tell such an easily detected falsehood 
as Mrs. Alderman represents. Her whole trip, 
as all must have known, occupied all the time 
from April 13th until June 1st, the time of her 
term at the Hospital. It was because of hard 
work during the whole of her vacation that she 
requested a month's delay in entering the Hos- 
pital. On her return trip she did make a multi- 
tude of calls — probably the number mentioned 
by Mrs. Alderman, as is easily conceivable when 
I tell you that she was gathering evidence to 
establish her father's claim to a pension. She 
visited very, very many — not only called upon 
these folks, but took their evidence. Each visit 
or caU could really be multiphed by three, as the 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION J 27 

affidavit of each had to be taken at an attorney's 
office — then each evidence had to be recorded by 
the county clerk in the county records. It 
wouldn't require very vivid imagination to fancy 
that her statement of visits might have a ' ' word 
of truth in it ". She lectured also at many places 
on her return trip, and stopped at Washington 
to have all her accumulated evidence examined 
and recorded. She acted as attorney for her 
father until just before leaving America. Mrs. 
Alderman's quotations are inexplicable to me. 

I have been in the same house with ' ' the 
woman ' ' for eight months, and have had oppor- 
tunity of observing her conduct under all cir- 
cumstances ; and I must say that I have met no 
one who has more unmistakably exemplified the 
spirit of Jesus. The Lord is manifestly owning 
her work, and I have no doubt that her work 
will be established and her name vindicated, 
notwithstanding the unaccountable attacks upon 
her. Mrs. Nind quotes you and Dr. Kidder as 
authorities in establishing Dr. Armstrong's un- 
worthiness, while you quote her. Don't you see 
how probable it is that the devil has had a hand 
in scattering aU this rumor, and that good people 
have been more cautious than charitable ? 

I have not been able to get this off as soon as 
I expected ; since, as both your official letter and 
Mrs. Nind's were circulated in India, I thought 
it wise to send the vindication to each individual 
who had seen the charges ; and I did not wish to 
have these good people wait two months, as 



128 KHETWADI CASTLE 

they would have done had I sent the vindication 
to you first. Since Mrs. Nind's letter has come, 
I have determined not to send Mrs. Alderman's 
letter, but to send an authenticated copy of the 
same. Dr. Armstrong speaks very highly of 
Mrs. Mnd, and is at a loss to explain' her letter. 

Please investigate the matter fully and if, as I 
believe, Dr. Armstrong is the victim of malicious 
or careless tongues, it is in your power to vin- 
dicate her, I believe that if you knew her you 
would esteem it a privilege to stand by her. I 
have fullest confidence in her, and I have good 
opportunity to study her well; and I had been 
prepared to take a stand against her; for before 
seeing her I had been acquainted with the reports 
concerning her. 

We were glad to hear of Crawford's improved 
health, and pray he may be completely restored. 
With much love to Mrs. Thoburn and yourself. 
Very sincerely, 

K. E. Stone. 



Note: — The foregoing letter from Mrs. Kate 
E. Stone, to Rev. James M. Thoburn, D.D., was 
written July 11, 1887. This letter Dr. Thoburn 
never answered. At least, if he did, I am not 
aware of it ; and I know that Mrs. Stone received 
no answer while she remained in India; nor 
were the papers which she forwarded to him, 
together with this letter, returned until many 
months after they were due. 



FAC-SIjMILI'; of BeCOSTA-S copy op MRS. jMARY. C. KIND'S LETTER TO THE 
REV. A. VV. RUDISrLL 

a^-hi^.x^ , A-v iiJ:<.../'t -fCtt.^ !i-i&f.,a^ c/ i^i^ iU.~4^^~yu^ /,^ ^ J',, ,, ef^^y^.-.^ -tZ^- 

/, . A .../ efeiJ' ^«^ ^/- ^^ ^cjLu C^„ur^.j Ly. ^^ r./-c£ /?. / A^ /r-/^ 
-^ (J^^^CJ ^^J^;/ uX^^--^- Jj...r;.,.,Z.^ t^-^yZ^.„ „.^...^C. 



a^ ■it'J' ^ -^c ^ 0<- ^-4"^^'^— /•; /^- c;^"^,", /5. .^ ly^-. *i^.,^f_ /»>*-,, ^2^__> 
^,.A^ ij. ■^^^- /,...c c^-^y £ <T<£^-- f/c c^ a p^/,,-^. hf—j*'. /i^-^ 1^4.^.— » ^2f^_ 






AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 131 

The following is the letter from Mrs, Mary C. 
Nind to Rev. A. W. Rudisill, referred to in the 
postscript of the foregoing letter from Mrs. Stone 
to Dr. Thoburn, and appearing in facsimile : 



1 



Minneapolis Branch , , „ 

of the i A <^OPy Of 

Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, | Mrs. Nind's letter 

of the 
M. E. Church. 
Mart C. Nind, Cor. Secretary. 



1. 



To A. W. Rudisill. 
Copied by De Costa. 



Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 8, 1887. 
Dear Brother Rudisill : 

Yours received acknowledging receipt of draft 
— glad to hear from you, I have now before me 
yours of April 20th and 23rd. Am sorry to hear 
of Mrs. Eddy's shattered health — and enforced 
return home — May the Great Healer mercifully 
restore and preserve precious consecrated hfe. 

We cannot employ Dr. Armstrong— not one 
of the Board of Secretaries would sanction it. 
We have had a great deal of trouble with her at 
home, and should have abroad of we employed 
her. I understand that Miss Armstrong has 
said Mrs. Alderman wanted to employ her under 
the auspices of the New England Branch, so I 
wrote to Mrs, Alderman to learn the facts in the 
case. 

Dear brother, Mrs. Alderman is one of our 
saintly women, tender as John and Mary, but 
fearless and courageous as St. Paul. I quote 
now, ' ' Dr. Armstrong, let me premise by say- 
ing, it is an utter and unmittigated falsehood 
that I wanted her. Let me tell you that one of 
those Armstrong girls was at the New England 



132 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Hospital for Women and Children. As a matter 
of courtesy I took an early opportunity to call and 
see her, knowing she had the reputation of being 
a Methodist. I was so thoroughly disgusted 
with what I saw and heard that I had no inclina- 
tion to repeat the visit. Such tales of romance 
I have never listened to. Not a shadow of 
truth in them. Just think of our heroine leav- 
ing Philadelphia in charge of eighteen orphans 
to find homes for them in the far west, never 
shutting her eyes for six days and nights, nor 
eating a morsel, and then finding homes for each 
separately, attending to making out papers of 
indenture and after all, looking after business 
matters for her father there, making two hun- 
dred and thirty business calls on the way back to 
Philadelphia, all of which was accomplished in 
less than three weeks ! ! ! I could never give my 
consent for her to be harbored by our society, 
and I'm more sorry than words can express that 
they are in India. She will work mischief any 
where unless she repents and comes to Christ. 
She is a capable person, which means she can do 
great harm — or great good. I would not write 
thus, but the case demands it. I fear that I 
may be quoted again as favoring the woman. 
If called for, please say to Brother Oldham (for 
he wrote me M, E. M. for permission to employ 
her in Singapore) for me that he has been de- 
ceived if he accepts any representation that the 
Corresponding Secretary of the New England 
Branch ever asked Dr. A. to go as Missionary, 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 133 

or even, or ever would accept her if offered. ' ' 
Now my brother with this and much more I 
could add from Dr. Thoburn and others, Dr. 
Kidder, I beg that not a dollar of my money 
goes to her or her set. I hope some one will be 
found meet for the work, and shall be glad to 
hear from you on this matter. Have no doubt 
Des Moines Branch will respond to your call when 
a suitable person is found, but they would not 
send a dollar for Miss A. We must be prayer- 
fully wise in disbursing the Lord's money. We 
work very hard at home to secure it. Am glad 
' ' Into the Light ' ' impressed you so favorably, 
it has been a great blessing to many ; the Edition 
is nearly exhausted, as soon as I can must get 
out another. May the Lord make it as useful, 
yea, more so in India, than in America, 

Now with much prayer for you and yours and 
your work. 

Your fellow servant, 

(Sigd.) Mary C. Nind. 



The following is an exact copy of Mrs. Alder- 
man's letter, to which Mrs. Stone refers, a fac- 
simile of which appears also in Chapter XVIII 
of ' ' Pork and Mustard ' ' ; both f acsmile and copy 
are here inserted to facihtate comparison. 

Hyde Park, Mass., June 24th, 1885 
Dear Miss Armstrong. 

Having learned of your graduation from the 
"Woman's College" in Philadelphia at its late 



134 KHETWADI CASTLE 

commencement, and tJiat you were to spend a 
year in some College or Hospital in Boston. I 
immediately went in search of you, — and was 
fortunate in finding a lady at the Dispensary of 
the New England Hospital for Women and Chil- 
dren, who told me that you were to come in 
June but from overwork you would not be able to 
come until later. — She could not furnish your pres- 
ent address, so I came home and addressed a note 
to Dr. Whitney Eesident Physician asking for 
your address — which reached me last evening. — 

We are under the necessity of supplying the 
place of Dr. Swain in BarciUy who has gone to 
Eajapatanah to establish an independent work. 
We must, if possible, send some one this 
Autumn about as early as will be safe. — 

Now I know nothing of your purposes or 
plans for the future, but as you have been men- 
tioned to me, as one who might be available for 
India. I am taking the hberty to address you 
upon the subject. — If this be a "call" to you, 
the matter of work here in the New Eng. Hos- 
pital, could be arranged in some way. Did you 
know Dr. Christiancy, personally? She has 
taken charge of the work in BarciUy, going from 
Moradabab as frequently as necessary, — to keep 
the work in "line". She has a very good 
native woman in the Dispensary at Moradabad, 
who can get along very weU, with the ordinary 
cases. — If you are able wiU you kindly let me 
know by letter, if you could help us ' ' out ' ' of 
this, — provided no previous arrangement can be 



!)% 



r 



ij\''mi%^^^ 



^^; 



-.1 „' >' 







y I ^1 ^^1^^^ 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 137 

made, — This is a very important field. Dr. Swain 
you will remember was our first Missionary, — 
and her name always heads the fist of Medical 

Missionary ladies. 

I hope you are improving in health. 

3:^ Yours Most Sincerely 

In Christian love 
Mrs. M. K. Alderman. 



The following are extracts from letters re- 
ceived from creditors, which Mrs. Stone for- 
warded to Dr. Thoburn, as stated in her letter 
to him : 

Philadelphia, February 23, 18 87. 
Dr. Armstrong, 

Dear Friend: Yours was received several 
days since, with enclosure, for which accept 
thanks. Your count covers all indebtedness. I 
return the note to you. I hoped you would call 
on us as you passed through Philadelphia. * * * 

I would like very much to hear something of 
your work in the East, but no doubt you have 
many letters to write. Do not forget to take 
care of your own health. 

Yours truly, 

M. J. Scarlett Dixon. 



Philadelphia, March 28, 1887. 
Dear Dr. Armstrong : 

Your letter at hand this A. M. We received 
your check for amount due us in full — some time 



138 KHETWADI CASTLE 

ago ; did not acknowledge, as we did not know 
your address. Accept our thanks for same. 

I am very glad indeed to hear from you in that 
far off land; and we should be pleased to hear 
from you again, and your work in India. I 
hope you are pleasantly located, and enjoying 
the work so providentially assigned you. To 
have the ability to minister to the body as well 
as the soul, to heal and elevate poor suffering 
humanity at the same time, is certainly a great 
gift and privilege. I hope you may be very suc- 
cessful in your good and noble calling. * * * 

Mr. Chillman and Miss Wilson join me in kind- 
est wishes and regards to you. 

Hoping at some future time to hear from you, 
I close. 

Very truly your friend, 
Mary E. Stewart. 



(Extracts from a long letter from Dr. A. Victoria Scott.) 

329 South 12th Street, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 



I was surprised by your cheque for fifty-five 
dollars ($55.00) and have sent receipt to your 
father. Please accept thanks for cheque, I did 
not expect it so soon. * * * 

I am glad to know you are happy in your 
work. That is what we all ought to be every- 
where, and the busier we are, the happier we 
are. '" * * 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 139 

Write me fully of your work, or write a let- 
ter to the Heathen Woman's Friend. Then 
all your friends can hear at once, for it is asking 
a great deal of you to write long letters to each 
separately. * * * 



West Chester, Penna., 

June 1, '87. 
My dear Dr. Solent : 

It was charming to get thy letter to-day, from 
far off Bombay, and I congratulate you upon 
being actually there. I hope the journey thither 
was not as fatigueing as one would fancy. 

When we meet, (i. e. you come to see me) I 
shall hear all about the journey, as well as 
everything before and after it. Writing seems 
impossible to one of thy imperative duties, even 
if hands were not required to do it ; but no2v is 
a good time to practice what I preach, viz. the 
proper use of Postals, as brief almost as a tele- 
gram, and much better than no letter. So prom- 
ise me one a month, wont thee ? But how long 
I am withholding answers to several questions. 
First about the check. It came all right in Feb- 
ruary, enclosing thy letter from New York, dated 
November ! Perhaps they detained it needlessly 
in Washington ; I do not know, but was most 
glad to hear from thee. I did not even know 
you had sailed. I wrote to Nettie Scott for your 
address just a short time before thy letter arrived 
from Washington; and she replied that you 
' ' were to sail for India, from New York, before 



140 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Christmas. ' ' It was kind of thee to want me to 
see you oif in New York. I should have wanted 
to do so, but could not, as I was just then in 
midst of moving here — a stupendous work for 
my aching body to undertake. 

I shall never get rested from it. Help disap- 
pointed me, and callers hindered, until I was 
obliged to sit up two whole nights previous, to 
get everything ready for the chartered car — only 
thirty miles ; but my numerous valuable break- 
ables, and spillables, and crushables, had to be 
cared for. * * * 

Is it your father, with the fine beard in the 
beautiful photograph you sent me ? He looks like 
a philosopher, and also a prophet ! They are ex- 
quisite photos, and it was kind of you to send 
them. How long will you be in India ? Already 
I am planning for the return, and my visit. * * 

In my next I wiU write of my new home 
here, a sweet, Gothic stone cottage, which was 
built as rectory of the Episcopal Church forty 
years ago, and had to be sold, that they might 
build another rectory, near the new church. I 
had a legacy, and put it into this home for my 
old age; and I have ivilled it as a " Eest for 
Teachers ". My mission seems to be to buy and 
furnish it in as pretty and elegant a manner as. 
possible, and I hope to live long enough to beg 
funds to carry it on when I am gone. I am also 
begging a Library for it, and in that room am 
getting quite a museum of odd things. Of 
course thee and Willa will each donate a book, 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 143 

after you return ? I especially want old books, 
that is, which have been read — and are worth 
reading again; and I want each one's name 
written in the book she gives. * '^ * 
Much love to you both from your attached, 

Sarah E. Bowman. 

P. S. The reason that I did not write a,t once, 
when check came, was that I did not know your 
address; what you gave was crossed off, and 
under it was written "address changed ". 

S.. K. B. 



(Letter from Mrs. Kate E. Stone to Rev. J. E. Robinson.) 
GrRANT EOAD, BOMBAY, AugUSt 3, 1887. 

My Dear Brother Robinson : 

Your letter of inquiries reached me yesterday 
when I was too busily engaged with home mail 
to give it immediate attention. 

As I read it and took in its import and in- 
definite charges, my first feeling was of chagrin 
and humihation that there could have been such 
action upon the part of a Christian, especially 
one of prominence in our church and missionary 
societies. 

It seemed to me to be a despicable, underhanded 
and dastardly attempt to vihfy Dr. Armstrong 
without giving her a chance to defend herself. 

I may be expressing myself too strongly, but 
this is whoUy an unofficial letter. I should feel 
the same, though perhaps express myself differ- 
ently, were I writing to Mrs. Alderman herself. 



144: KHETWADI CASTLE 

Now: 

1st. Who requested an official letter from any 
lady in America ? 

2nd. Who in America could fancy it her 
bounden duty to write such a letter as you cite ? 

3rd. Why should it be charge sufficient to 
prove Dr. Armstrong's unfitness for mission 
work if she had indulged in ' ' romance ' ' or ex- 
aggerated in regard to ' ' sleeplessness ' ' ? 

4th. What proof, beyond her own sweeping 
statement, (which may go for its worth) has Mrs. 
Alderman that the taking of orphans West was 
all ' ' romance ' ' and her sleeplessness had ' ' not 
a word of truth in it " ? 

Now, Brother Eobinson, did I not know one 
word about the case, these four considerations, 
together with my estimate of Mrs. Alderman's 
character from one sentence in her own letter, 
would make of no weight whatever her insinua- 
tions. You perhaps noticed the sentence in Mrs. 
Alderman's letter referring to the fact fchat Miss 
Swain was the first Medical Missionary sent out, 
and ' ' her name heads the list of Medical Mis- 
sionaries ^\ My attention wasn't directed by 
any one else to this sentence. But as I read the 
sentence it seemed to me to contain a sly tempta- 
tion to ambition held out to Dr. Armstrong to 
induce her to accept this position, and I involun- 
tarily contracted a contempt for the Missionary 
Secretary who could hold out such a bait to a 
missionary. However, I fought my feeUngs, 
thinking I perhaps did the lady injustice, that 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 145 

her words might have been unconsidered, etc. 
But the quotations from her now lead me to 
most unbounded contempt for one who could so 
quietly charge falsehood upon one whom she 
knew was already being persecuted on all sides. 

After considering the matter fully I am rejoic- 
ing in the assurance that the Lord has permitted 
this evil that the wrath of man (or woman) may 
praise Him, and that Dr. Armstrong's character 
and value as a laborer in His vineyard may be 
more fuUy established and recognized. 

1st. The littleness of the charges seems to me 
to indicate the extremity of her enemies and 
of the enemy of souls. 

2nd, The completeness of the vindication pos- 
sible throws the lie upon her assailants, and is 
thus a double weapon in her defence. 

3rd. Surely the character of any future assail- 
ant will have to be established before her accusa- 
tions have any weight. 

If Mrs. Alderman should write such a letter 
against Mrs. Skidmore or Mrs. Keen, what 
weight do you suppose it would have ? Judg- 
ment would at least be suspended until the ex- 
planation had been given. It seems to me Dr. 
Armstrong ought to be accorded the same simple 
justice. 

Not one charge against her has in my opinion 
been substantiated, and yet she continues to be 
hunted to the death. I think it is a shame to 
Methodism and Christianity, yes, and humanity. 
If every thing said against her were true I yet 



146 KHETWADI CASTLE 

can't see how any one owes it to himself, or the 
church, to persecute one who is perfectly inde- 
pendent in her work — and doesn't in any way 
ask the church to assume responsibilities for her. 
She holds her membership in the M. E. Church. 
If charges are to be brought against her, ought 
not they to be brought in the Disciphnary way ? 

Now for her vindication : — In the first place, 
let me explain that the whole conversation re- 
ported or quoted was invited by Mrs. Alderman 
herself — for this same Mrs. Alderman (who in 
Dr. Thoburn's official letter stated her almost 
total ignorance of Dr. Armstrong) not only 
wrote the letter you have read, and called at the 
New England Hospital as she herself states now, 
but she called several times during Dr. Arm- 
strong's absence from the Hospital, as we can 
prove if need be. When finally Mrs. Alderman 
found Dr. Armstrong at the Hospital, she natur- 
ally inquired the cause of her month's delay in 
coming. I think this detracts a httle from the 
statement, for if ' ' romance ' ' were recited, its 
recital was invited It was a natural and true 
thing to teU under any circumstances, but was 
divested of all spirit of brag by the fact that it 
was given purely with the intent to refute a very 
common charge, then in circulation and even at 
the moment intimated by Mrs. Alderman, that 
Dr. Armstrong was exceedingly dehcate, too 
much so to entertain the thought of going to 
India. 

To answer this inquiry and half -charge of Mrs. 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 147 

Alderman, Dr. Armstrong told her of her work 
among orphan children. 

I am so glad the way has opened up for me to 
acquaint you with Dr. Armstrong's worth and 
true missionary spirit. I think nothing shows it 
more clearly than this work among ragamuffins. 

Dr. Armstrong was at one time engaged in 
city missionary work in Chicago, and again in 
New York City ; indeed wherever she has been 
she has had some such work. In this work she 
became especially interested in city waifs, and 
her heart was stirred with the conviction that if 
some childless homes and these waifs could be 
brought together the benefit would be mutual. 
She talked and wrote to her father about it so 
continually that finally her father agreed to take 
one boy himself, and her brother, fifty miles dis- 
tant, agreed to take another. This was about 
five years ago, possibly six. These two boys 
turned out so nicely that the neighbors were in- 
cited to do likewise, and tlie two boys could have 
been given to others again and again. But Dr. 
Armstrong was now too busy with her heavy 
medical studies to attend to the work. When 
she graduated, however, there remained for 
her two months of vacation before her term at 
the New England Hospital would begin ; and she 
determined that this was her one opportunity to 
do this missionary work. She knew it would be 
a tremendous undertaking to take wild, unre- 
strainable boys from the East to the West ; but, 
having received word from her father that nine 



148 KHETWADI CASTLE 

families wanted each a boy, she determined to 
undertake it. She started on Monday morning 
from Philadelphia with three boys. She can refer 
you to the Philadelphia "Home", from which 
she got them, and to several who knew about 
the undertaking. Mrs. Hartsock in Baltimore 
will gladly substantiate the " romance ". 

In Washington the party stopped with Mrs. 
La Fetra, well known in church circles. Mrs. 
La Fetra will also substantiate the " romance ". 
She was very kind to the urchins, and I think 
will express an opinion that it would be next to 
impossible to sleep when taking such a trip in 
such company. 

At Chicago, Dr. Armstrong got eight more 
boys, and thus with a party of eleven boys, ages 
ranging from five to eight, untamed, untrained, 
wild as animals uncaged, she started on. Do 
you fancy that her story about sleeplessness on 
such a trip was without ' ' a shadow of truth ' ' 
in it. Such a party naturally attracted a little 
attention, and it would not be difficult to get 
multitudes to corroborate the statements I 
make. This is unnecessary, however, as the 
story can be fully established by the records of 
the ' ' Home for the Friendless ' ' in Chicago, 

When Dr. Armstrong reached home these lit- 
tle ones all had to be given out to Christian 
families, papers of agreement had to be signed, 
papers descriptive of the children and their former 
life had to be got in readiness. In fact multi- 
tudinous duties grew out of the enterprise as 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 149 

you can plainly see would be the natural result. 
The party started on Monday morning and did 
not reach its destination until Saturday night, 
the last thirteen miles of the journey was by 
coach. Four weeks was little enough for the 
work just mentioned; her vacation was but two 
months, from March 11th to June 1st, She 
hurried back to Philadelphia, but found herself 
so nearly prostrated that she requested and was 
granted a month longer before going into the 
Hospital. 

Of course when Mrs, Alderman went to the 
Hospital again and again, she was told — ' ' Dr. 
Armstrong is not well and wiU not be here until 
next month. ' ' To refute the charge of invahd- 
ism, which Dr. Armstrong thought was injuring 
her, she repeated this experience. 

Before Dr. Armstrong and her sister came to 
India, this work was weU organized. Their 
father's wife, their step-mother, has property; 
their father not only has his pension, but a httle 
besides, and continues his practice of medicine, 
so the homestead was considered to be the girls'. 
They persuaded their father to dedicate it instead, 
as ' ' The Park Hill Orphanage ". He did so, giv- 
ing house, furniture, horse and carriage, cow and 
one hundred and sixty acres of good land. This 
Orphanage is a fact of undoubted substantiahty. 
I will send you the Constitution and By-Laws of 
it.* They are the work of Dr. Armstrong. I 
wiU send many notices of the same. Thus is 

*See Chapter XX, in "Pork and Mustard." 



150 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the statement of ' ' romance ' ' exploded. My 
soul burns with indignation, I fear I am not in 
condition to write calmly, perhaps not so syllogis- 
tically as I ought. It will be the eloquence of 
earnestness if not of logic, however, so please 
excuse it. 

In regard to Mrs. Prescott, I did not write to 
you about that, for it was such a long story ; but 
I verily beMeve that Dr. Armstrong's whole 
grievous experience has been in consequence of a 
school-girl squabble many years ago. Bishop 
Mnde heard the whole story, and not only knew 
Mrs. Prescott ; but all other parties mentioned by 
Dr. Armstrong; and in Bishop Ninde's opinion 
Dr. Armstrong was fully justified in the course 
she took. Dr. Pudisill heard this story, and it 
was principally for his benefit that I sent Mrs. 
Hartsock's letter. It was such an ingenious, 
and yet so complete a substantiation of Dr. 
Armstrong's story, as Dr. Rudisill heard it. 1 
knew that Dr. RudisiU had requested Dr. Tho- 
burn's official letter, and I was especially anxious 
that this seemingly unconquerable prejudice 
should be overcome. I will send you copies 
of letters which will explain the story I think. 
Brother Jacobs is now in Bombay for a change, 
and is for the present stopping with us. We 
will give him verbal explanations of any thing 
he fails to see into. Dr. RudisiU already knows 
the story, and pronounced the vindication tri- 
umphant ; so you are the only one who needs this 
letter. I hope it wiU be satisfactory. Hasn't 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 151 

Dr. Armstrong had a history that reads hke a 
romance ? Has she not been persecuted most 
unaccountably ? I think Mrs. Hartsock's letter ^ 
referring to her privilege of fellowship with 
Christ in suffering almost ranks her with those 
martyred saints, whose physical suffering could 
scarcely be more painful than some of her ex- 
periences. Mrs. Newman's letter f appeared in 
one of the Church papers, I think it was the 
Central Christian Advocate. Dr. Armstrong 
never saw the article in print, and but a rough 
draft of it at all. I don't think we have a copy 
of it, but you could get it I think from some 
other source. I do not know what was the date 
of its publication. The book referred to by Mrs. 
Hartsock had the title of " Pork and Mustard ", 
and grew out of manuscripts written from time 
to time by Dr. Armstrong. It contained an ac- 
count of her call to India, four or five of her 
lectures, several of her poems, and aU were 
gathered together, at the urgency of friends, 
into a book. She was afterward urged to write 
a description of her lecturing tour, and some of 
her tribulations or experiences in preparing her- 
self for the field. In this part of the manuscript 
occurred the recital of her experience with Mrs. 
Prescott.:]: She was urged to put this in especially 
for the good it might do in opening up the eyes 
of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society at 
large to the disaster and damage one member 

* See Chapter XIII, in " Pork and Mustard", 
f See Chapter XXI, in " Pork and Mustard." 
I See Chapters VIII and XIII, in " Pork and Mustard." 



152 KHETWADI CASTLE 

could do in prejudicing the whole society, or at 
least in putting obstacles in the way of a candi- 
date. All her friends urged the publication of 
these chapters with the exception of Mrs. Hart- 
sock, who urged her " to take out " of her 
' ' book all that reflects on any body, and then I 
think ' Pork and Mustard ' will taste good. ' ' The 
book was accepted by Walden and Stowe, and 
was to have been printed at the end of the year. 
Dr. Armstrong, however, felt as if she could 
not have the book printed, for she was one day 
ready to put in these chapters, and the next per- 
suaded that they should be left out. 

She finally withdrew it and it has never been 
published, but is here in manuscript. 

Dear Brother Robinson, I wrote this letter a 
week ago, and am very sorry it has been delayed ; 
but I have been so busy, and Dr. Armstrong has 
been so busy, that I found it impossible to get in 
readiness some of the proofs that I wanted. 

Dr. Armstrong has been sick for two days — 
overtaxed herself in trying to resuscitate a dying 
child; and, then when faint and half sick, was 
exposed to the sun until she has been quite sick, 
and only to-night have I had the heart to harass 
her brain over this harrowing business. To her 
surprise, and to my deMght we find in looking 
over her papers (so carelessly preserved) super- 
abundant proof of all I have affirmed. I shall 
not expatiate on these proofs, they speak for 
themselves. 

More than all this, it has been Dr. Armstrong's 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 153 

custom to keep a half -hourly record of her hfe. 
She found it easier to do this than to keep a 
regular or ordinary journal. In this record book, 
which we have been looking into to-night, is a 
complete history of her trip West with the 
orphans.* I want her to send it to you; but, in 
the form it is in, it contains so many private and 
personal matters that she cannot bear to send it. 
I will send one page however as a sample of the 
exactness of the record, and give you my word 
for it that it is only one page of a book of such 
records. I think the Lord Himself and none 
other led her to keep by her these letters and 
records. She destroyed many letters when she 
came to India, for they were bulky, but some 
she valued too much to destroy, and others she 
hadn't opportunity to review, and thus she has 
these with her. 

Dr. Armstrong has confidence in Mrs. Mnd, 
and thinks that Mrs. Mnd beUeves everything 
she may have written against her. She thinks, 
however, that almost aU Mrs. Mnd's information 
is derived through Mrs. Prescott ; and, in Doctor's 
opinion, Mrs. Prescott is false to the core. She 
is as decided in her denunciation of Mrs. Pres- 
cott as she is in her commendation and excuses 
of Mrs. Mnd. I must confess the weight of 
testimony is against Mrs. Prescott. I wonder if 
she would be willing to submit to the investiga- 
tion Dr. Armstrong has had to endure. 

I am sorry. Brother Robinson, you did not send 

*See Chapter XVII, in "Pork and Mustard." 



154 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the letter referred to to me ; I might then have 
answered it more satisfactorily. I have reason 
to think that the letter has been circulating 
through the Conference — and I guess that it was 
written by Mrs. Nind to Mrs. Rudisill. I do not 
know, this is my guess. Am I right ? I knew 
nothing of this until after I had written this 
letter, nor do I know much more now than I 
have guessed. 

I neglected to say that, on her way back to 
Philadelphia, Dr. Armstrong lectured at many 
places. In Michigan she stopped to collect evi- 
dence to establish her father's claim to a pension. 
This business was tremendous, as she had to get 
many evidences, and these had to be taken to an 
attorney to be sworn to — then to the County 
Clerk to be recorded. She stopped at Washing- 
ton and had the accumulated evidence recorded 
and the case called up. She was her father's 
sole attorney until a few months before she left 
for India. 

Now, Brother Robinson, this is purely a per- 
sonal and unofficial letter. It may help you to 
write your letter, and I will stand by you. If I 
were writing a letter home, however, I might 
write it a little differently. 

Please return the letter as soon as possible, 
also the enclosed manuscript of which Dr. Arm- 
strong has no copy. 

I do wish I had seen Mrs. Mnd's letter, or Mrs. 
Alderman's exact words. Did she say, as I 
infer from your letter, that the ' ' trip West with 



AN APPEAL AND A VINDICATION 155 

orphans" was "romance", or what? And 
about sleeplessness, how could she make the 
statement that there was "not a shadow of 
truth" in it? Did she mean that Dr. Arm- 
strong did sleep — if so, how could she prove it? 
Or did she mean Dr. Armstrong's statement of 
the fact hadn't truth in it ? I have an idea that 
Mrs. Alderman has, perhaps unknowingly, 
enlarged on Dr. Armstrong's statement; so, al- 
though it seems such a condescension to inquire 
into a charge of such httleness, yet I have ques- 
tioned the Dr. about this. Doctor's statement to 
Mrs. Alderman in regard to sleeplessness was, 
"I slept not at aU on the train, nor did I eat 
save once in twenty-four hours when the chil- 
dren were asleep. ' ' When the party stopped in 
Baltimore and other places, as Doctor's "record " 
wiU show, they were very well cared for. Mrs. Al- 
derman's fancy must be vivid — I fancy anything 
she may have said could be easily explained. 
Have you forwarded my letter ? If so, when ? 
We have not heard of anyone else getting it. I 
am anxious it should make the rounds of India 
early, as I want to get it off to Dr. Thoburn as 
soon as possible. If you have not yet forwarded 
it to Dr. Rudisill, please send it back to me first, 
as Brother Jacobs is here and wiU be for a short 
time longer. Please send it registered and I 
wiU refund the cost. 

Please don't quote me in your home letter; use 
any proofs I may have given you — but, if my 
name is used, I prefer to append what is said in 
my letter to Dr. Thoburn. 



156 KHETWADI CASTLE 

If Dr. Fraser is still with you, remember me 
kindly to him. I received his very kind letter 
and partially answered it, but have not got it 
finished, and I fear it is too late to send it. 

My husband sends salaams to Mrs. Robinson 
and the bairnies. 

I would like ever so much to have a copy of your 
"strong" letter home. I think the ears of 
some folks in the home land ought to be burning 
hotly. Dr. Stone joins me in kindest regards. 
Hoping Dr. A's affairs will be sometime allowed 
to settle themselves. 

Very sincerely, 

K. E. Stone. 



-^ 



/ 




w 



-,«■ 

% 







^^.=>x ^--^^^^ 



T 



CHAPTEE XII 

A YOUNG missionary's 
UNWEITTEN LABORS OF LOVE 

Having wandered with us through the great 
apartments of our Khetwadi Castle, you wiU 
crave an introduction to its inmates. First of 
all you must know my darling sister, Miss Wil- 
limina L. Armstrong, eleven years my junior, 
who accompanied me to India, and whose heart 
was so well-nigh broken at the separation from 
father, home, friends and country; but who 
still, in her sweet young womanhood, had the 
courage to forsake ah ; and, at His bidding, to go 
out to the foreign mission field unaided and 
alone, but for the one senior sister who had 
been a kind of mother to her from the days of 
her early childhood. 

She had spent three years in the Woman's 
Medical CoUege of Pensylvania, but was too 
young to graduate, and in India was not will- 
ing to assume the role of doctor, even though 
many uneducated medical students, with much 
less knowledge of that great science than she 
had acquired, were there practicing the pro- 
fession and receiving handsome fees for their 
professional services. To be a quack she could 
not, or rather, would not, in any land. Anxious 
to do something by means of which she might 

(159) . 



160 KHETWADI CASTLE 

be able to pay her own expenses, and having, 
while in Philadelphia, graduated from the Mount 
Vernon Institute of Elocution and Languages, 
she, through the kind introduction of our mutual 
friend and pastor, Dr. J. Sumner Stone, obtained 
a position as teacher of Physical Culture and 
Elocution in four of the English Grovernment 
schools of Bombay. This position netted her a 
sufficient sum to cover all her own expenses, 
and enabled her to pay to me a reasonable sum 
for her board; which, of course, was a great 
help during those early days of struggle. 

These positions my sister held, giving the high- 
est satisfaction to the school authorities, pupils, 
and all concerned, until her injury by a serious sun- 
stroke. After her recovery from this, I prevailed 
upon her to resign the position, which she did. 
She then began independent mission work 
in the slums of Bombay Enghsh and native 
cities ; going, sometimes in company with another 
missionary worker and sometimes with Staff 
Captain Blanche B. Cox, to the darkest depths 
of native and European Slumdom. She visited 
unhappy prostitutes in their wretched brothels, 
carried the blessed Grospel of Jesus Christ, sing- 
ing songs of Zion, offering up earnest petitions to 
Almighty God, warning, reasoning, entreating, 
giving tender assurances of love, sympathy and 
interest, reaching the helping hand to the lost 
and perishing; and thus spending and being 
spent for God and humanity. These visits were 
paid, for the most part, in the late evening, or 



A YOUNG MISSIONARY 161 

even at the dead of night, and were not without 
peril to the sweet young Hf e thus given to the 
Master's service. 

In addition to this work my sister soon gained 
a large number of wealthy, high- caste, zenana 
lady friends, whom she visited with more or less 
regularity. These homes she visited ostensibly as 
a friend, but really as a missionary, and as a 
zenana worker. First of all she had gone in com- 
pany with various other zenana missionary work- 
ers, and had acquainted herself with the character 
of their labors, until she became quite famihar 
with all phases of that department of missionary 
effort. Having thus become familiar with the 
work, and also with many wealthy zenana ladies, 
she built up for herself a regular mission field of 
her own, among the high-caste, wealthy zenana 
ladies of Bombay; a large number of whom 
were sufficiently famihar with the Enghsh lan- 
guage to be able to converse with her in her 
mother tongue. Where they were not thus well 
informed, however, it made little difference, as 
my sister very soon gained a sufficient knowl- 
edge of the Hindoostani, and Marathi languages, 
to be able to carry on conversation in them. 

Who can estimate the ultimate results of my 
sister's missionary labors in Bombay ? Were 
any souls saved ? Were any zenana ladies con- 
vinced of the truth of the Christian reUgion ? I 
know not ; and yet how could it be otherwise ? 
God has a record which will be revealed on His 
great day of accounts, and which must show re- 
sults. 



162 KHETWADI CASTLE 

No reports of any kind were ever kept or 
forwarded to any society or board in America, 
or elsewhere, by either my sister or myself. 
While there we had httle leisure for letter or re- 
port writing. Our hands, hearts, brains and time 
were full, and much more than full with the 
many duties, responsibilities and labors which 
pressed upon us through every hour of every day. 

Is there any gauge by which influence can be 
measured ? Are there any scales in which kind 
words, loving deeds, sweet smiles, earnest prayers 
and the fragrance of a pure, fresh young life can 
be weighed ? If so, then, perhaps, my sister's 
labors may be computed, and the results of them 
estimated. 




MRS. JIARV ESTIllCR ISAAC :\10SES 



CHAPTER XIII 

MRS. MA.RY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 

The regular missionary of the Parent Board, 
and the teacher and zenana missionaries of the 
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, immediately after 
their arrival in India, must decide upon some one 
Indian language which is to become their own ; 
and the first duty which devolves upon them is 
to master that Indian tongue. This done, they 
are given a field of labor where the majority of 
the people speak the language with which they 
have famiharized themselves. With a physi- 
cian, a medical missionary, the case is different. 
A pastor may select his own church, or it is se- 
lected for him with reference to the language 
spoken by a majority of its communicants; a 
teacher may gather pupils from whatever caste 
or language she may decide upon ; a zenana mis- 
sionary may visit such zenana homes as she may 
select, where the inmates speak a language 
which is famihar to herself; but a physician 
must treat the patients who come to the office, 
must go to any and all homes where called, 
must attend upon the crowds of dispensary 
patients that daily flock to the dispensary ; and 
aU this without regard to wealth, caste, lan- 
guage, or any other distinction. In the one city 

(165) 



166 KHETWADI CASTLE 

of Bombay twenty- seven different languages 
are spoken. It would be folly for any one to 
undertake to master so many languages in a single 
lifetime ; and yet it often happened that, during 
one afternoon, I treated patients in my office 
who spoke a dozen or more different tongues, or 
nearly as many languages as there were patients. 
The best, and only thing which remained for me 
to do was to secure the services of a competent 
hnguist, who would serve me in the capacity of 
interpreter. Such an one I found in the person 
of Mrs. Mary Esther Isaac Moses, a young widow, 
scarcely past her twentieth year. Her husband 
had been an engraver, a sculptor, and a local 
preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church ; but, 
after a lingering illness of three years duration, 
he died of consumption. The young widow, 
married when a girl of thirteen years, was left 
without means with which to support her five 
children, two of whom, the twins, were born 
shortly after the father's decease. 

Mrs. Moses speaks twelve languages — seven 
fluently, each as if it were her mother tongue. 
So fluent is she, so ready, and so efficient in 
every way; that, during my six and a half 
years residence in India, meeting people of 
many languages, I scarcely ever reahzed that I 
did not myself understand their various dialects. 
Certainly, I never felt a lack nor met an embar- 
rassment on account of not being famihar with 
the languages of the people. 

Often and often educated natives, princes, 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 167 

nawabs, rajahs, dewans— native gentlemen well 
versed in English, as well as in many languages 
of their own country, after conversing with me 
for some time, and listening to me as I conversed 
with their wives through my interpreter, would 
turn to me impulsively and, with a gesture of 
surprise, exclaim : "Of what nationality is this 
woman ? She speaks to me in my own language 
as if it were her mother tongue — ^better than I 
know how to speak it ! She knows aU the lan- 
guages that I know, and more than I know ! I 
cannot make her out. Does she know all 
language ? " 

As the hfe of Mrs. Moses is so closely inter- 
woven with the following history, a brief review 
of her early years cannot, I think, fail to inter- 
est my readers. 

Mary Esther Isaac was born August 15, 1866, 
in Bombay, India. She is of pure Jewish par- 
entage, although her ancestors have lived in In- 
dia for many generations. At the time of the 
Neroan persecution her forefathers came from 
the Holy Land and settled in India. So that, 
while she is an Indian, in a proper sense of the 
term, yet she is not a native. Just as you and 
I may caU ourselves Americans, and correctly so, 
although we are not American Indians. Nor 
have any of Esther's ancestors intermarried 
with the natives of India — that is to say, with 
Hindus or Mohammedans. They have always 
married and intermarried with Jews. 

Esther's mother is a weU educated woman. 



168 KHETWADI CASTLE 

speaking many languages. Years ago, in Bom- 
bay Jewish school, she taught Hebrew, and also 
several of the languages peculiar to the people of 
India. 

Her mother's mother was a woman of great 
strength of character, energy, piety, and good 
judgment. When she became a widow, she, 
Esther's maternal grandmother, was employed 
as nurse in wealthy Bombay families, and sev- 
eral times travelled through Europe in charge of 
English children, or adult invalids. Once she 
came to America in charge of the small children 
of an American missionary, whose wife had 
recently died of cholera, in India. 

In early infancy Esther went to live with this 
grandmother, her father having died, and her 
mother being left with a large family to support 
by means of her own industry. 

Whether Esther inherited the strength of 
character, mental cahbre and courage of her 
grandmother; or whether she acquired such 
qualities by observation and intimate association 
with this strong and gifted woman, we cannot 
say ; but, certain it is, that she does possess in a 
great measure the traits and characteristics of 
this ancestor. 

From infancy she wore the costume peculiar 
to the children of Bombay Jews ; but, at the age 
of seven, she began to wear European dress. 

During early childhood little Esther attended 
an interdenominational mission school. When 
this school was disbanded, and while Esther was 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 169 

still a mere child, she was taught by private 
tutors. At the age of ten years she was sent to 
a Eoman Cathohc Convent. Not that her parents 
were Eoman Catholics, they were Christians; 
but there was no other school to which they were 
willing to send her, and her mother and grand- 
mother were anxious to give her the best possible 
opportunity for acquiring a thorough education. 
At the convent she was a general favorite, and 
proved to be so apt and efficient in the sick room 
that to her was entrusted the care of the sick, 
even while she was still a mere child. 

When Esther reached the age of thirteen 
years, her mother came to the convent for her, 
stating to the Mother Superior that her step- 
father was very ill and called for her incessantly, 
and that she could not refuse him a sight of her 
child. The Mother Superior seemed to suspect 
that this was merely an excuse to get the child 
away from the convent, and she used every 
argument available to persuade the mother to 
allow Esther to remain. Not suceeding in this, 
however, she finally gave her consent ; and, with 
many tears and regrets, parted with the bright- 
eyed little girl, whom she had learned to love so 
well. 

When Esther arrived at her home, her step- 
father seemed to be as well as usual, and she 
could not at first understand for what cause her 
parents had brought her home from the convent. 
They informed her, however, that she was soon 
to be married, explaining that a very worthy 



170 KHETWADI CASTLE 

man, who was a Christian, and a local preacher 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church, wished to 
make her his wife ; and they thought it was the 
best thing that could possibly happen to her; 
and so they had arranged the matter, and she 
was to be married in a few days. 

It never occurred to Esther that she could in 
any wise frustrate the wishes of her parents, and 
disobedience was a thing which had never en- 
tered her thought. Of course she had no feel- 
ing, or sentiment of any kind, in the matter. 
Her parents represented to her the many great 
and pleasant advantages of a marriage with this 
Christian gentleman; and she was presently 
taken to the bazaar to purchase her trousseau. 
This naturally afforded her much pleasure, and 
all the pretty new articles which were purchased 
quite diverted her thought from her school hfe, 
and she soon became absorbed in the strange, 
new prospect before her. That evening a gentle- 
man called at the house, and was introduced to 
her as Mr. Ballajee Moses, to whom she had been 
betrothed. He was a man of thirty-two. She 
could not then remember of ever having seen 
him before ; although her mother told her that 
he had met her many times in her childhood, 
and had admired her; and had long wished to 
have her for his wife. She describes herself as 
being shy, reserved, and silent in his presence ; 
but says that he treated her as a father might 
treat his dearly beloved child; and says he was 
always very kind, indulgent and considerate to- 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 171 

ward her. There was never any love making or 
courtship between them. In a few days after 
Esther's return home from the convent, a party 
of friends gathered, and the marriage ceremony 
was performed by the now sainted George Bowen ; 
under whose ministry Mr. Moses had been con- 
verted, and whom he ever afterward held in pro- 
foundest reverence, seeking to imitate him in all 
the details of his own life. Mr. Bowen seemed 
to Mr. Moses a pattern of true, manly and Chris- 
tian perfection. He undertook no business, 
decided no matter of importance, settled no dis- 
puted theological question, without first consult- 
ing his friend and religious father and teacher, 
Mr. Bowen. 

Mr. Moses proved to be a very grave, silent, 
studious man — the veriest book worm. He 
spent every spare moment in Bible and theologi- 
cal studies, much time in his devotions ; and sel- 
dom left home except at the caU of business, or 
to attend the means of grace. Esther, on the 
contrary, was but a child, full of life, hope, 
spirit, fun, and eager to see and know something 
of the world. It was impossible for her to be 
altogether happy in so uncongenial a companion- 
ship ; and yet, as the years passed by, the gen- 
uine kindness, forbearance, patience and fatherly 
care of her husband served to soften her heart 
toward him ; and, according to her own confes- 
sion, she had just begun to really care for him 
when he died. 

During the summer of 1886, as above stated. 



172 KHETWADI CASTLE 

after a lingering illness of two years duration, 
Mr. Moses died of consumption ; leaving Esther 
a widow at the age of twenty, with five child- 
ren; and without any means of support. His 
small savings, through his own generosity, had, 
for the most part, been given out in loans to his 
poorer relatives; who, apparently, never in- 
tended to return the money. The small balance 
which remained was consumed during his long 
illness; and the people who owed him money 
refused to settle their accounts after his decease. 
Thus the young widow was left destitute. 

Through the influence of her friend, the Eev. 
George Bowen, she obtained a position as teacher 
in a Methodist Mission School, in Bombay. 
This school, as a matter of fact, was actually 
organized by Mrs. Moses herself. Her position 
here, however, did not prove to be permanent; 
and, seven months after her appointment, just 
as she had gotten it well organized, the school 
changed hands, and her services were no longer 
required. 

It was just at this juncture that I arrived in 
India, and discovered my need of an interpreter. 
The missionaries, in whose school she had taught, 
recommended her to me as a very fluent linguist ; 
but instructed me that I was not to pay her a 
larger salary than ten rupees per mensem ; and 
further advised that I insist upon her wearing a 
saree (native costume) instead of the European 
dress, which she was in the habit of wearing. 
They assured me that ten rupees a month was a 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 173 

sufficient amount with which to support herseK 
and family in native style ; and that, if I were 
to give her a larger salary, it would estabhsh a 
bad precedent, and would spoil her as a servant. 
They also explained to me how much better it 
was, in their opinion, for a native woman to 
wear the native costume ; and told me that she 
was utterly destitute, had an aged mother and 
five children to support, and that if I insisted 
upon her giving up her English dress, and taking 
to the native costume, she would be obliged to 
do so. I told my advisers that I could not dic- 
tate to the little woman in regard to her own 
personal dress ; that it made no difference to me 
whether she wore European or native costume, 
as long as she interpreted for me correctly, and 
proved to be an efficient and satisfactory assistant, 
I told them I could not on any account agree to 
dictate to her in such a matter, or even to men- 
tion, or advise, that she change her manner of 
dress. 

It is with real pain and sorrow that I 
recall the fact that I did not, also, refuse to 
heed the advice given in regard to salary. In 
justice to myself, however, I must say that I 
did not then know the value of a rupee, nor how 
far it would go toward the support of a family. 
I was new in India, I had not long handled Indian 
money; and as to the prices of food, and the 
like, in India, I never did learn them. When 
my missionary friends assured me that ten 
rupees would afford an ample support for my 



174 KHETWADI CASTLE 

little interpreter, her mother and five children; 
I never thought of questioning the truth of the 
matter. I supposed they knew ; and so I offered 
Mrs. Moses ten rupees per month, which she ac- 
cepted. During the first year of Mrs, Moses' 
stay with me she was silent, reserved and non- 
committal. When she came to me for instruc- 
tions in regard to her work, I would beg her to 
take a chair by my side ; but she never consented 
to do so, always standing in my presence. Soon 
after I opened my Hospital, and Medical Mis- 
sionary Training School for Nurses, in Khetwadi 
Castle, Esther's youngest born, the second of 
the twins, who were born shortly after their 
father's decease, died; the first of these had died 
about the time of her coming to me, or prior to 
that date. Silently and sadly she allowed the 
second little form to go from her. 

I have since felt that I was, in some sense, 
almost guilty of its death. There were, at the 
time, so many burdens pressing upon me, my 
responsibilities were so heavy, and my labors 
so exhausting, that I had httle time to think 
of the wee baby at Esther's home, left in care 
of its aged grandmother. Indeed, I think I 
never remembered about it at all. Esther 
came to me in the early, early morning, and 
often remained until late at night. I really 
needed her every moment. I could not speak to 
a servant without her. I could not treat a 
patient, see a native caller, go to the home of a 
native patient, or conduct my medical work in 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 175 

the hospital, dispensary, office, or out-practice, 
without her — for she was my tongue. 

At the end of the first year of Esther's stay with 
me, I knew her no better than on the occasion of 
her first visit. During all the intervening months 
I had felt, more and more, that I did not ; and, 
somehow, could not know her. Silent, almost 
sad, she seemed ; uncommunicative, though al- 
ways respectful. 

One day, about this time, I discovered that 
she had something upon her mind which was 
troubhng her greatly, and I tried to draw 
her out to speak more freely to me. At 
length she said, ' ' Doctor, would you mind 
going around to see my httle boy ? I fear he is 
very ill, and that he is not able to be brought 
here to the hospital to see you. ' ' I said, ' ' Cer- 
tainly, Mrs. Moses, I shall be glad to do so. Why 
did you not teU me before ? You know that I 
attend the poor for nothing all around ; and that 
every day people are coming to me, whom I 
treat without charge. You know, too, that I 
always attend my own servants gratuitously. 
Of course, I shall be most glad to do anything in 
my power for you. ' ' 

A short drive brought us to a chall in the out- 
skirts of the native city. Here we climbed a 
long flight of narrow, rickety stairs ; and, finally, 
came to the two small rooms which constituted 
the home of my interpreter. Her aged mother 
was here — a very tall, very silent, old woman ; 
straight as a pole, with eyes that seemed to 



1Y6 KHETWADI CASTLE 

search to the very depths of your soul ; yet hav- 
ing something about her hthe, ahnost stealthy 
carriage and tread, which would make you feel 
strangely. 

There were also in the room two little girls, 
aged four and six respectively, and one boy of 
three years, with a tremendously protruding 
abdomen, and little, slender, pipe- stem hmbs. 
He had great black eyes; straight, jet hair; 
scrofulous running ears, and a suspicious squeak- 
ing noise in the chest, which at once made me 
think that he would soon follow his father to the 
grave, with the same disease that had carried 
him thither. 

As gently a possible, I told his mother of my 
suspicion ; and was somewhat surprised to see her 
qnite overcome with grief. In trying to comfort, 
I told her that I did not consider the child past all 
help, though in a dangerous and critical condi- 
tion of health ; but with proper care, I thought, 
he might recover. I then advised her to give 
him plenty of good, fresh milk, fresh eggs, beef 
steak, good butter and, indeed, the very best and 
most nourishing food, and plenty of it. To my 
stiU further surprise Mrs. Moses became more 
agitated than ever. I think I never saw a 
mother, or a mortal, who seemed so utterly 
crushed and broken-hearted as did she upon that 
occasion. 

At a loss to understand the cause of her 
uncontrollable grief, I said to her : ' ' What is 
it? Why do you weep so? We will do the 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 177 

best we can for the child, and I hope that he 
will yet recover." Between her sobs she then 
said, "But, Doctor, don't you know? Don't 
you see that I cannot feed him as you say ? To 
save his life, I cannot give him the good food 
that you have ordered. " 

Then I understood. I saw, for the first time, 
the true situation; and realized that it was 
my own fault. Certainly, if she could not 
supply her child with properly nourishing food, 
such as would restore his health, and pro- 
long his Ufe, it was because I did not pay 
her a sufficiently large salary to enable her to do 
so. Then I began to realize that ten rupees a 
month ($3.25) was not money enough with 
which to support a family consisting of two 
adults and three children; but that they were 
actually suffering for food. 

I can never express the sorrow and grief I 
felt at this discovery ; and I immediately began 
to cast about in my mind as to what I could 
do to remedy this condition of things. I saw 
that the child was already too far gone to 
be easily, or readily restored to health; that 
he would need the most exquisite care and 
attention in order to bring him through. 
Presently I said to her, ' ' Now, Mrs. Moses, just 
give this httle boy to me ; and, if anything can 
be done to save his life, it shall be done. ' ' She 
was silent, but wept no more ; and I was still at 
a loss to know her mind. The following day my 
little Mrs. Moses came into the office leading her 



178 KHETWADI CASTLE 

only son, the wee boy, whom she called, ' ' Son- 
nie ", though his real name was, Victor Earnest; 
but whom I always afterward called, " Moses ". 

It was several years after this before I knew or 
understood what a struggle, what pain and agony, 
that httle mother had suffered before she could 
surrender to me her only son ; but I am glad to 
know that she never since has had cause to re- 
gret having done so. I took him to my own room, 
bathed and clothed him with my own hands, 
and in the best and most healthful manner pos- 
sible. Then I ordered for him condensed milk 
every two hours, eggs, beef tea, chicken broth, 
and all the most nourishing articles of diet that 
could be obtained for his regular meals. 

Besides this, I prescribed tonic medicines ; and, 
within a few short months, I had the happiness of 
seeing the protruding, enlarged abdomen subside, 
and become normal; the emaciated muscles of 
his hmbs enlarge, and grow round and firm ; the 
scrofulous discharge cease, and all unnatural 
sounds in the chest disappear. Of course I 
assured my little interpreter that the child was 
still her son, and should always be that, calling 
her ' ' mamma ' ' ; but that I should call him my 
boy, and love him as my very own, which I did, 
and do. 

Almost immediately after taking little Moses 
to my home and heart, I had a room in our 
Khetwadi Castle cleaned and fitted up for Mrs. 
Moses, and her aged mother ; and I then invited 
her to come and bring her family, and five in my 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 179 

home. Later on, I gave to Mrs. Moses another 
separate room for herself; and they were all 
very comfortable with us. Prior to this, how- 
ever, Mrs. Moses placed her two little girls in 
the mission school of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Bombay; so that only herself, the 
little boy, and her mother remained with me. 

Still later, I insisted upon having Mrs. Moses 
board with me, and sit at our family table, as 
did all the members of my Medical Missionary 
Training School for Nurses ; and, although the old 
lady, Mrs. Moses' mother, never did come in 
and sit with us at our family table, yet we used 
always to send her food on a tray to her own 
room ; and thus I made sure that no member of 
the family suffered for want of food, or com- 
fortable abode ; even though I did not increase 
the salary of my interpreter. 

Gradually, from this time, Mrs. Moses became, 
while in my presence, somewhat more commu- 
nicative and less formal, reserved and silent. 
Often, as we drove from the house of one patient 
to that of another, she would question me in 
regard to the case, or the treatment. If it were 
a new case which we had just visited, she would 
often say, ' ' Doctor, what is the disease ? What 
caused it *? What remedy was it you used ? 
What result do you expect ? " Of course, I soon 
became interested in my little interpreter. I 
love medcine, and cannot choose but be interested 
in any one who takes an interest in the work in 
which I am, myself, so deeply interested. Nat- 



180 KHETWADI CASTLE 

urally, therefore, I began to teach her ; and, dur- 
ing my medical rounds, the time was well filled 
in with medical talks. I explained to her the 
course of the various, and most common diseases, 
the method of examination, the diagnosis, treat- 
ment, prognosis, effect of treatment, care of the 
sick, and everything in connection with my work. 

The members of my Medical Missionary Train- 
ing School for Nurses usually gathered together 
in my office, or in the lecture room, during the 
afternoon or evening, for a medical lecture from 
me. On such occasions, Esther would usually be 
in the room, either cleaning instruments, putting 
them away, or otherwise employed. Several of 
my student nurses were Eurasians; one or two 
of whom were somewhat indolent, and would not 
exert themselves sufficiently to remember what 
was told them ; so that I was often obliged to tell 
them the same thing over and over again before 
they would remember it. This became very try- 
ing to me; and, sometimes, more with an object 
of putting my student nurses to shame, than with 
any expectation of getting the correct answer, 
after a question had gone the round of the nurses, 
and not one of them could answer it correctly, I 
would call Mrs. Moses and put the question to 
her. At such times I was often surprised by 
getting a perfectly correct and accurate answer. 

One day I sent Mrs. Moses out on an errand; 
and, during her absence, I needed something 
which I had given into her keeping. In my 
search for it, I went to her room and, finally, 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 181 

opened one of her bureau drawers, where I 
thought possibly she might have put the articla 
in question. Instead of finding what I wanted, 
I came across a large package of papers, which 
had been carefully pinned together. They con- 
sisted of pieces of brown wrapping paper, the 
white margins torn from newspapers, and all 
sorts of scraps. Upon examining this curious 
assortment more closely, I found that, upon 
these papers were written aU sorts of medical 
questions which she, from time to time, had put 
to me; and underneath each question was the 
answer which I had given her. This opened my 
eyes stiU further to the fact that my little inter- 
preter was really a student, and was interested 
in the work which so engrossed my own life. 
Upon her return I asked her if she would not 
Uke to become a member of my Medical Mission- 
ary Training School for Nurses. At first her 
face was hghtened up with a great joy; this 
expression, however, presently gave place to a 
look of sore disappointment and sorrow, as she 
said, ' ' Doctor, I would love to do it, but I 
cannot." ''Why, Mrs. Moses," said I, "what 
is there to prevent you from being a member of 
the school ? " " Why, ' ' said she, ' ' I cannot pay 
the fee. " " Oh, never mind that, I never thought 
of you paying any fees, I didn't ask you to be- 
come a member of the class with any such 
thought as that. I should never charge you any 
admission fee ; or any fee whatever, for anything 
in connection with the school. You are not hke 



182 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the other girls, you are here in my service ; and 
if I choose to make you a member of the school, 
and to teach you, why, that is nobody's business; 
and I shall be delighted to have you come in 
and take the course. Moreover, if you excel the 
others in the studies of the two years course, 
you shall have the gold medal, which I have 
promised to the student who stands the best in 
all the branches of study and work at the end 
of the two years. ' ' 

From this time my little interpreter's heart 
seemed to open toward me like a flower toward 
the sun ; and all her nature seemed to grow more 
sweet and beautiful day by day. She not only 
became a member of my Medical Missionary 
Training School for Nurses, but she did win the 
gold medal ; standing, at the end of the two years, 
far and away above any other member of the 
class, and exceUing all others in every particular. 

She was the one student nurse in whom I 
could place perfect confidence, and upon whom I 
could rely at all times and under all circumstances. 
The most difficult medical, surgical and obstetri- 
cal cases were placed in her nurse care ; because 
I knew that I could trust her to carry out every 
direction in its minutest detail. She never failed 
me, never disappointed me, never ran any risks, 
never forgot or omitted any duty. She was ever 
faithful, true, thoroughly trustworthy, reliable 
and efficient. 

Gradually, I began, more and more, to reahze 
what a treasure I had in my httle interpreter, 



MRS. MARY ESTHER ISAAC MOSES 183 

Mrs. Moses; and to appreciate her real worth 
and value, not only as an interpreter, but as a 
hospital nurse, and a general medical and surgi- 
cal assistant. From appreciating and valuing 
her, on account of her real worth and ability, 
I came gradually to love her tenderly as a 
woman ; and still later on, as my very own child. 

During the spring of 1889, when I fell so seri- 
ously ill in Khetwadi Castle, I began to see that 
my love for her was fully reciprocated. Night 
after night she watched over me, I could not 
persuade her to he down. She would rub my 
aching hmbs, press my temples, apply hot fomen- 
tations, and labor over me continually, almost 
night and day. When I was suffering, as she 
rubbed me, she would turn her face away ; and, 
presently, I would see or feel the hot tears as 
they roUed down her face and dropped, perhaps, 
upon my hand or hair. Not a word did she say, 
always seeking to conceal her anxiety ; yet, from 
time to time, I discovered it, and knew that her 
heart was mine. 

When, finally, I decided to leave Bombay, 
after all the iUness, suffering and trouble there, 
I did not at first know whether she would con- 
sent to accompany me to Lahore, or whether she 
would feel that she must remain with her mother 
and little girls in Bombay. In my own mind I 
decided that, in the latter case, I would not take 
away her dear and only son ; but would 
leave him with his mother, in Bombay. He had, 
by this time, grown quite well and strong, and I 



184 KHETWADI CASTLE 

had become wonderfully attached to the little 
fellow, and he to me ; so that I could not think 
of parting from him without pain ; yet I knew 
that it would cause his mother greater pain to 
have him go; and so I decided to leave him. 

When I first told Mrs. Moses about my plan of 
going to Lahore, asking her if she would accom- 
pany me, she gave me no definite answer; and 
until the very day before starting I did not know 
whether or not I should have my httle interpre- 
ter with me. She had never in her Mfe before 
been outside of Bombay. I was, therefore, 
somewhat surprised when, on the very eve of 
starting for Lahore, she packed her box, and pre- 
pared to accompany me. 

Enough about Mrs. Moses for the present. 
You shall hear more of her, later on. 



CHAPTER XIV 

OUR KHETWADI CASTLE HOUSEHOLD 

Sunderbai Powar first came to me as a patient, 
and occupied one of our hospital beds until fully 
restored to health. She was, at that time, one 
of the assistant zenana missionary workers in 
the zenana missionary home, of the Woman's 
Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of Bombay. Later on, how- 
ever, after having left the mission house, and 
having made her home for a time with our 
dear friends. Rev. WiUiam and Mrs. Carrie 
Bruere, who were in charge of the mission work 
of one of the native churches of Bombay, she 
entered our Medical Missionary Training School 
for Nurses, and became an inmate of our Castle. 

Sunderbai ! How I love the name ! Its mean- 
ing is, appropriately, " Beautiful lady ". Such 
was our Sunderbai Powar in very truth. Beauti- 
ful in face, form, and feature ; beautiful in char- 
acter, beautiful in heart, and beautiful in life. 
A lady in the truest, highest, best sense of the 
word. Sunderbai Powar was, and is, a beauti- 
ful native Christian woman. 

Rukhmabai is the young, high-caste, Hindu 
woman who had the courage and strength of 
character to refuse to go from her father's home 
to the house of her mother-in-law, to hve with the 

(187) 



188 KHETWADI CASTLE 

fast, dissipated man to whom, without her con- 
sent, she had been betrothed and wedded in her 
early childhood. During the great legal conflict 
which ensued, she enhsted the interest and 
sympathy of all Christian people throughout 
the world, while being the object of almost 
universal contempt, if not actual enmity, of 
Hindus throughout India. She, also, for a 
short period, was a member of our Medical Mis- 
sionary Training School for Nurses, though 
never an inmate of our Khetwadi Castle. Liv- 
ing at her own home, which was but a short 
distance from our Castle, she frequently came to 
our training school class, in order to gain what 
information she might be able to glean from 
lectures, bedside and clinical instruction, surgical 
operations, etc. Soon, however, her gTeat law 
suit coming to an end, she was sent, by kind 
and interested friends in Bombay, to London, 
England, to attend j\Iedical College. There she 
took a thorough medical training ; and, in due 
time, graduated with honors ; afterward return- 
ing to India to practice her profession. 

Miss Lillian Lucy Seitz, an Eurasian girl, was 
really the first regular student to enter our 
Woman's Medical Missionary Training School. 
She was admitted July 25, 1887 ; and entered the 
school with the intention of taking a fuU four 
years course, but soon became dissatisfied, and 
voluntarily withdrew before the expiration of 
two years. Poor Lillian ! Had it been possible 
for others to do her studying for her, as they 



OUR KHETWADI CASTLE HOUSEHOLD 189 

did a large share of her labor, so that she could 
have acquired the necessary information, disci- 
pline, and experience without personal effort, she 
would have remained until the completion of 
her course ; but her distaste for study and, in- 
deed, for labor of any and all kinds, together with 
her appetite for novel reading and the like, 
proved, in her case, as such taste must ever 
prove, disastrous to success. 

Nurse Charlotte Gomes was a Hindu girl, who 
had been adopted in early childhood by a Church 
of England missionary lady, with whom she 
had acquired the rudiments of an ordinary edu- 
cation. She was a pretty, bright, affectionate 
native girl ; and soon became an excellent nurse, 
and much beloved by all, patients, servants and 
nurses. 

Nurse Tansley was an English girl, and came 
to India as an officer in the Salvation Army. 
For reasons of her own, unknown to me, she left 
the Army; and, later on, became a member of 
our Medical Missionary Training School for 
Nurses, and an inmate of the Castle. We 
all loved Miss Tansley. She made herself 
generally useful, although she never seemed 
well adapted to the routine work of a hospi- 
tal nurse; and, before she had been long 
with us. Bishop Thoburn came to India and 
offered her a position in a small inland mission 
station, which she accepted. Afterward, how- 
ever, Miss Tansley returned to Bombay and mar- 
ried the husband of one of my JKhetwadi Castle 



190 KHETWADI CASTLE 

patients, who had died while under Miss Tansley's 
nurse-care. 

Mrs. Smith, a young Enghsh widow, from 
Madras, was one of our very latest comers, join- 
ing the Medical Missionary Training School a 
short time before my serious illness, which re- 
sulted in the closing of the institution. She was 
intelligent, competent, efficient; and would, I 
feel sure, have made an excellent nurse. 

Birdie, " My Birdie " — her real name was 
Miss Isabella Jane Belcham ; but I always called 
her ' ' My Birdie " . So small and dehcate she was ; 
but, withal, having such a sweet, womanly dig- 
nity, and possessing such rare qualities of mind 
and heart that, " To know her was to love her ". 
' ' Birdie ' ' was, in fact, my housekeeper, hospital 
nurse and general assistant ; well-nigh invaluable 
to me she proved to be. Of pure English parent- 
age, " Birdie " was born in India. The Sepoy 
Rebellion occurred during her early infancy, and 
her mother concealed herself, together with this 
infant daughter, in a field of standing grain. It 
was late in the evening and dark ; and, as the mur- 
derous sepoys passed by, the mother was unable 
to quiet the crying of her baby. This attracted 
the attention of the sepoys who were intent up- 
on massacre; whereupon the mother distinctly 
heard one of them exclaim, ' ' That is the cry of 
an Enghsh child ! " In answer to this remark 
another sepoy exclaimed, " Don't you know the 
cry of a native child ? That is not an English 
baby, but a native child, crying. ' ' The murderers 



OUR KHETWADI CASTLE HOUSEHOLD 191 

then passed on, and the mother and babe es- 
caped unhurt. 

Our dear friend and guest, Miss McNeal, an 
efficient missionary of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and a most earnest, consecrated and 
capable Christian woman, temperance worker 
and evangelist, was for several months a mem- 
ber of our Khetwadi Castle household. While 
with us she continued to carry on her beautiful 
mission work among the English soldiers of 
Bombay; holding Bible readings, prayer meet 
ings, and various other religious services at regu- 
lar and frequent intervals in the lecture room of 
our Khetwadi Castle. How thoroughly we ap- 
preciated and enjoyed her gracious presence it 
would be difficult to tell. 

Dr. and Mrs. Stone remained with us until 
the late autumn, when their new Grant Eoad 
Methodist Episcopal parsonage was completed. 
No words can express how sadly we missed 
them from our home circle; but their leaving 
India to return to America during the followng 
February was, to me, a terrible blow. Indeed, 
when they left India I felt that I sustained an 
irreparable loss; and was again a stranger and 
alone in a foreign land. 

In the course of my life I have often known 
the pain of being separated from dear friends; 
but never did I suffer more keenly than on this 
occasion. 

Eev. George Bowen, our beloved friend and 
counselor, was not at this time a member of our 



192 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Khetwadi Castle household, nor indeed ever, 
until he came there a patient ill unto death. He 
was, however, our frequent visitor, and so dearly 
beloved by us all that we counted him as one of 
us. It was his custom to dine with us every Fri- 
day at 6 o'clock p. M. At 3:30 o'clock every 
Friday afternoon Brother Bowen gave a Bible 
reading in the lecture room of our Khetwadi 
Castle, for the benefit of my student nurses. 
My sister and I, however, were in the habit of 
attending this Bible reading service ; and many 
of our dear missionary friends, of Bombay, 
made it a point to be present. What an inspira- 
tion, help and blessing these Bible readings were, 
none who attended them could ever fail to re- 
member. Most punctually and regularly dear 
Brother Bowen came to fill this appointment. 
I believe, from the time the hospital was 
opened, on the 15th day of June, 1887, until 
Brother Bowen 's fatal iUness, he never once 
failed to be present at the hour appointed. 

On the 25th day of January, 1888, Mr. Bowen 
left Bombay for Poena, for the purpose of at- 
tending the South India Annual Conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he 
was a most beloved and revered member. 
Elected to the presidency of the Conference*, he 
assumed its duties and responsibilities with his 
usual earnestness ; although he was at that time 
extremely feeble, and just recovering from the 

*See " Within the Purdah", page 178, for picture of this Con- 
ference. 



OUR KHETWADI CASTLE HOUSEHOLD 193 

effects of a fall from a tramway car, which had 
fractured his thigh bone and rendered him com- 
paratively helpless for a time. Now, however, 
he was able to move about even without his cane, 
which for some weeks past had been substituted 
for crutches. During the Conference he was also 
suffering from a heavy cold which he had recent- 
ly taken. In spite of all this he was, as usual, 
abundant in labors, and most efficient in all. 

On the following Sunday morning he preached 
to the Conference, delivering one of his deeply 
spiritual sermons on the subject of " Union with 
Christ ' ' ; and at noon he preached in Marathi to 
a mass-meeting of school children. 

Conference adjourned Tuesday evening, Jan- 
uary 31st. That night, in company with several 
other missionaries, Mr. Bowen left Poona for Bom- 
bay, by the 11 o'clock train; taking, as usual, an 
intermediate railway compartment, which was 
most crowded and uncomfortable. During the 
following day he was called upon to baptize 
several children in Grant Road Church. That 
same Wednesday evening he participated in the 
farewell meeting tendered Dr. and Mrs. Stone, 
who were about to take their departure for 
America, dehvering the fareweU address; and 
afterward he administered the Sacrament of the 
Lord's Supper. 

AU this served to complete the work of pros- 
tration, and that night Mr. Bowen was taken 
seriously and fatally ill. The following day, 
Thursday, in comphance with Mr. Bowen 's own 



194 KHETWADI CASTLE 

request, Dr. Stone sent for me. The medicine 
which I prescribed afforded such immediate re- 
Mef that he expressed his surprise at the benefit 
experienced. In spite of all that could be done, 
however, he grew rapidly worse, and on Friday 
Dr. Stone suggested that he be brought to Khet- 
wadi Castle Hospital; to which he readily and 
cheerfully agreed. Ordinarily prone to chafe 
under any special personal attention, he yet 
quietly and gracefully submitted to the vigilant 
watching and nurse-care which was so constantly 
afforded him in the Hospital. Of course we 
had given him the best and most pleasant pri- 
vate room in the Castle ; and not only did the 
nurses do everything in their power for the pro- 
motion of his health and comfort, but my sister 
constituted herself his special attendant, and it 
was her gentle hand that smoothed back his soft 
locks, bathed his face and hands, and arranged 
his pillows. She sat like a guardian angel by his 
side — anticipating every possible wish. What 
mortal could resist her tender and gracious 
ministrations ? When our beloved Brother 
Bowen was admitted to the Hospital, his friends 
and my friends said to me, ' ' You will have a 
hard time with Brother Bowen, he will never 
submit to be taken care of, and nursed, as you 
nurse your patients. ' ' But he did. When my 
sister said, ' ' You know I am just a httle girl, 
and you are like my father, ' ' he seemed glad to 
have it so ; and happy to fall into such loving, 
tender hands. 



OUR KHETWADI CASTLE HOUSEHOLD 195 

Friday night the nurse on duty took him beef 
tea, chicken broth, milk, or some sort of nour- 
ishment every hour —something different each 
time, of course; and on the following morning 
she reported that he had spent a wakeful but a 
restful night. Saturday he seemed better in 
every way, expressing himself as being much 
easier, and quite on the mend. He seemed to 
think that he would be able to attend to ' ' The 
Guardian ", of which he was editor, during the 
coming week. 

At 11 o'clock Saturday evening I paid him my 
last professional visit for that day, examined his 
tongue, pulse, temperature, and inquired as to 
his various symptoms. He assured me that he 
was feeling extremely weU, and quite at ease; 
and I left him, going straight to my room, with 
the comfortable assurance that he was in a fair 
way to rapid recovery, there being no symptoms 
of a serious nature. During the night he took 
his nourishment regularly, at the hands of the 
night-nurse, every hour until 6 o'clock Sunday 
morning, when he refused it ; saying that he felt 
so easy and so restful that he preferred not dis- 
turbing himself to take the nourishment until 
the next hour. At 7 o'clock the day-nurse, Mrs. 
Moses, went to his room with a cup of broth, 
and was startled by his deathlike appearance. 
After watching him for a moment, she rushed 
away in search of me. I went to his room im- 
mediately, but only to find that our beloved friend 
and counselor, George Bowen, had gone to his 



196 KHETWADI CASTI.E 

eternal reward. During the short period between 
6 and 7 o'clock on that beautiful Sabbath morn- 
ing, while the weary soldier lay asleep, his great 
heart stood still, and ' ' He was not, for God took 
him ". What further remains to be said? " J. 
Prince and a Great Man Has Fallen^'' — such 
words as these served as a title to many an 
article written in his memory. Eather let us 
say, "A Prince and a Great Man Has Risen ". 

It seemed to us that the room, and the whole 
Castle, became sacred — a holy place, since, from 
within its walls, such a spirit had taken its flight 
heavenward, to God. 



CHAPTER XV 

SEVEN ADOPTED INFANTS 

You wonder how it happened that I adopted 
seven native chilJren while in India, and why I 
took so many of them during their early infancy 
— having at one time five under six months old ? 
No, I did not go about searching out orphaned, 
deserted children whom I might adopt as my 
own. I had no lack of labor, care, or responsi- 
bility; and I found plenty of use for all the 
money I was able to earn. You think it was an 
unwise thing for me to undertake so much at 
one time ? It may have been so, I never had 
any wisdom to spare, nor have I ever been over- 
stocked with worldly prudence. Many of my 
friends thought it unwise, and some of them 
criticised me severely afterward, when it was 
too late to undo what had already been done. 

When I fell iU, and was confined to my room 
for a period of three months, one of my student 
nurses went to the house of a friend to spend 
Sunday, and was exposed to a very malignant 
form of measles, which was epidemic in Bombay 
at the time. After being thus exposed she re- 
turned to the hospital and entered the nursery. 
The babies soon f eU iU with measles ; and I my- 
self was so iU, at the time, that my sister judged 
it unwise to mention the matter to me, fearing 

(197) 



198 KHETWADI CASTLE 

that my anxiety for the children might increase 
my own peril. So it happened that the babies 
were all seriously ill before I knew anything 
about it. I then had them brought into my 
room and placed upon my bed, while I, sitting 
bolstered up, did what was possible for their 
rehef. Two of the little ones, however, died 
that same day, and another the following day — 
one, little Aaron, having died previously. Thus 
four of my dear little foundlings were taken 
from me. 

When this happened some of my friends were 
kind enough to say, ' ' It serves her right, she 
had no business undertaking so much! What 
did she want of all those babies, anyhow ? ' ' 
Small comfort, you say? Yes, small comfort, 
but that is a commodity which does not always 
come when we most need it. Perhaps I did 
deserve to suffer for my lack of wisdom; and 
yet, dear friend, if you had been there in my 
place, hearing a divine call constantly sounding 
in the ear of your soul, feeling a responsibihty 
resting upon you for the salvation of souls, and 
seeing suffering and want all about, I think, if 
you have a heart in your bosom, you would have 
done the same. 

I did not wish to adopt orphan children. I did 
not search for them, nor in any wise seek them 
out; but when they came to my door, as they 
did ; and when, in each particular case, it came 
to be a question of allowing a young life to per- 
ish at the hands of a murderous mother ; or that 



SEVEN ADOPTED INFANTS 199 

of suffering an innocent babe to be kept in a 
condition of chronic starvation, and carried 
about in the bazaars, with its Httle naked, 
emaciated body exposed to pubUc view for pur- 
poses of alms-winning ; then I did not know how 
to refuse. 

To describe each particular case would be to 
write a volume ; but when such cases as these 
were presented to me, I could not forget the 
words which our Lord spoke, as coming from 
the King at the last great day, when He said, 
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
the least of these, ye have done it unto me ' ' ; 
and I could not turn them away, 

A few of the circumstances surrounding the 
early life and adoption of these children, briefly 
related, may not prove altogether uninteresting. 



MASTER EDWARD TRUMAN AARON 

Edward Truman Aaron was born in Bombay, 
December 7, 1887. His parents were both Mo- 
hammedans, but his father had died prior to his 
birth, leaving his mother a widow and destitute. 
She sold her baby, on the front veranda of Khet- 
wadi Castle, for twenty rupees, to one Kalu Kis- 
son and his wife, Lukshimbai, both of whom 
were of the sweeper caste. These people, how- 
ever, soon grew weary of his care, and begrudged 
the money spent for his food. 

He was brought to me on three occasions in a 
condition of chronic starvation, nigh unto death. 



200 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Each time we nursed him back to hfe and health, 
afterward restoring him to his foster parents. 
On the 27th day of December, 1887, however, I 
adopted him, paying his foster parents sixty 
rupees to cover all expense incurred on his 
account. 

Adoption papers were written and signed May 
21, 1888, and he was afterward baptized by Eev. 
William W. Bruere. Little Aaron, as we called 
him, was at that time so emaciated, wrinkled, 
shriveled, dark and ill that he looked as much 
like a mummy as a hving infant. We gave him 
every care, and he gradually improved, living un- 
til May 28, 1888, when he died in convulsions. 
Legal Agreement 

We, the undersigned, Kalu Kisson and Luk- 
shimbai, do hereby agree, and promise, concern- 
ing the child, Edward Truman Aaron, as follows : 
First, 

That, having this day received from the hands 
of Saleni Armstrong, M.D., the sum of sixty 
rupees only, that sum being equivalent, or nearly 
equivalent, to the amount of money which we 
have actually expended for the above named 
child, Edward Truman Aaron, we do hereby 
relinquish all claim upon the child, and do sol- 
emnly promise to make no further trouble what- 
soever in regard to him, Edward Truman Aaron. 
Secondly, 

That, at no time, or under any pretence what- 
soever, will we undertake to influence the child 
against the home of its adoption, or by any 




]N[ASTER VICTOR ERNEST A[OSES 



SEVEN ADOPTED INFANTS 203 

means to entice it away from the same. 
Thirdly, 

We do further agree to make no trouble, by 
hanging about the place, making frequent or 
long visits, or asking for additional sums of 
money. 

Signed this second day of May, in the year of 
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty- 
eight. 

Signed, 

Kalu Kisson, 
lukshimbai. 



MASTER VICTOR ERNEST MOSES 

Master Victor Ernest Moses is the only son of 
Mrs. Mary Esther Moses, by her first husband, 
Abraham Ballajee Moses. Victor was born in 
Bombay, November 23, 1883, and is a Ben Israel, 
his mother being of pure Jewish descent, though 
her ancestors have resided in India for many 
generations; while his father was a Ben Israel, 
as indicated by his name, Abraham Ballajee 
Moses. I adopted little Victor, whom I used to 
call "Moses", on the iTth day of September, 
1887; but the legal indenture papers were not 
signed until October 27, 1888. He was baptized 
by Bishop C. H. Fowler, in the great front haU 
of our Khetwadi Castle, on February 7, 1889. 
He is now attending coUege in America, with a 
view to returning as a missionary to India. He 
is a beautiful boy, and an earnest, devout 
Christian. 



204 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Legal Agreement 

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT made 
the twenty-seventh day of October, one thous- 
and eight hundred and eighty-eight, BETWEEN 
MARY ESTHER MOSES, the widow of BaUajee 
Moses, late of Bombay, Jew inhabitant, deceased, 
of the one part, and SALENI ARMSTRONG, of 
Philadelphia, America, but now residing in Bom- 
bay, of the other part : 

WHEREAS, it has been agreed between the 
parties hereto, that Victor Ernest Moses (the 
son of the said Ballajee Moses, deceased, and 
Mary Esther Moses) now of the age of five 
years, or thereabouts, shall be adopted, educated, 
and maintained by the said Saleni Armstrong, 
and that the said Mary Esther Moses shall have 
no further claim to the said Victor Ernest Moses. 

AND WHEREAS, in pursuance of such agree- 
ment, the said Victor Ernest Moses has, prior to 
the execution of this agreement, been given into 
the charge of the said Saleni Armstrong, NOW 
THESE PRESENTS WITNESS, and it is hereby 
mutually agreed and declared between and by 
the parties hereto as follows, that is to say: — 

1. The said Saleni Armstrong shall maintain, 
clothe and educate the said Victor Ernest Moses 
in a suitable manner, until the said Victor Ernest 
Moses shall be of full age or shall be able to earn 
his own hvelihood, and for the purpose of his 
education, or otherwise, it shall be lawful for 
the said Saleni Armstrong at any time to send 



SEVEN ADOPTED INFANTS 205 

the said Victor Ernest Moses to America or else- 
Av^here. 

2. The said Mary Esther Moses shall not be 
entitled to the custody of, or to make any claim 
whatsoever over or in respect of, the said Victor 
Ernest Moses at any time. 

3. In the event of the said Mary Esther Moses 
desiring at any time to resume the charge and 
custody of the said Victor Ernest Moses, it shall 
be lawful for, but not compulsory on, the said 
Saleni Armstrong to give up the charge of the 
said Victor Ernest Moses, and to hand him over 
to the custody of the said Mary Esther Moses ; 
and in such case the responsibihty of the said 
Saleni Armstrong, under this agreement, shall at 
once cease and determine. 

4. In the event of the said Saleni Armstrong 
being willing at any time, at the request of the 
said Mary Esther Moses, to hand over charge of the 
said Victor Ernest Moses to the said Mary Esther 
Moses, the said Mary Esther Moses shall first 
reimburse the said Saleni Armstrong, with inter- 
est, aU charges and expenses incurred by her on 
account of the said Victor Ernest Moses, whether 
incurred for clothing, maintenance, education 
or otherwise howsoever; and shall also pay to 
the said Saleni Armstrong, in addition, a reason- 
able remuneration for the care, trouble and atten- 
tion bestowed by her in and about the bringing up 
and education of the said Victor Ernest Moses. 

5. The sum payable to the said Saleni Arm- 
strong, under clause four of this agreement. 



206 KHETWADI CASTLE 

shall not exceed in the whole the sum of rupees 
fifty per month, and shall not be less than rupees 
twenty-five per month. 

As witness the hands of the parties the day 
and year first above written. 

Signed, 
Mary Esther Moses. 
Saleni Armstrong. 
Witnesses, 
Isabella Jane Belcham, 
WiLLiMiNA L. Armstrong, 
Helen Richardson, 
Hannah Walker. 



ANGIE F. NEWMAN 

Angie F. Newman, whose original name was 
Annie Kemp, was an Eurasian child, born in 
Bombay, November 5th, 1885. Her mother's 
name was Sarah Petronilla Kemp. She and her 
husband, whose Christian name I do not know, 
were both Eurasians. After Mrs. Kemp's hus- 
band died, she became dissipated, immoral, and 
incapable of taking proper care of her baby 
daughter. In compliance with the importunity 
of interested missionary friends, I adopted little 
Annie, on the 9th day of August, 1888. She, 
too, was baptized by Bishop Fowler, February 
7, 1889; but was stolen from me in December, 
1889, by her disreputable, fallen, drunken mother, 
and sold outright — body and soul — to the highest 
bidder. 



r 
p. 






I 




MAS'l'llK ,I.\V (iKI') M!LIJ':K 



SEVEN ADOPTED INFANTS 209 

MYRTLE EVANS 

Myrtle Evans was born in Bombay, May 23, 
1888, in Miss Eichardson's Reformatory Hospi- 
tal. Her mother's name was Sarah Petronilla 
Kemp, Myrtle being half-sister to our little 
Angie. 

Myrtle Evans was an illegitimate child, born 
about two years after the decease of Mrs. 
Kemp's legal husband. The child's father was 
an European Turk. 

I adopted Myrtle August 9, 1888, when she 
was less than three months old, together 
with her half-sister, Annie, whom we named 
Angie F. Newman, after my beloved mother- 
friend, Mrs. Angie F. Newman, of Lincoln, Ne- 
braska. The adoption papers, however, were not 
signed until October 30, 1888. Myrtle was also 
baptized, with the other children, by Bishop 
Fowler, February T, 1889. 

Little Myrtle was a remarkably beautiful and 
attractive child; but, to the sorrow of all who 
knew her, she died April 6, 1889, of a malignant 
form of measles. 



MASTER JAY GEE MILLER 

Jay Gee Miller was born in Miss Eichardson's 
Reformatory Hospital, in Bombay, December 18, 
1887. His father's name is unknown to me, but 
his mother's name was Mary Brunton. 

For his own sake I adopted the child when he 
was about three months old, I have not the ex- 



210 KHETWADI CASTLE 

act date; but the papers of indenture were not 
signed until October 7, 1888. He, too, was bap- 
tized by Bishop Fowler, together with the other 
children, on February 7, 1889. He is now with 
me in America, attending public school; and, 
though still quite young and not sufficiently 
matured to plan for his future life, we hope and 
trust that he may yet be fitted for efficient mis- 
sion work among the people of his own country. 



TRUMAN MARTIN 

Truman Martin, whose original name was 
Frederick Percy Storrer, was a legitimate child, 
of pure Irish parentage. He was born in Bom- 
bay, June 11, 1888. His father, Henry Storrer, 
had previously deserted his wife, Truman's 
mother, Elizabeth Storrer, leaving her destitute, 
with five children to support. This she found 
impossible to do, except by means of vv^et-nurs- 
ing. The poor, stricken mother was deeply 
grieved at the thought of parting with her beauti- 
ful baby boy; but, in order to save her other 
children and herself from starvation, she finally 
reluctantly consented, in accordance with the 
importunity of her friends, to part v/ith her 
youngest born. She was, at that time, residing 
in Poena; and her friends wrote me begging 
that I take the child, which I finally consented 
to do; and, October 2, 1888, he was formally 
delivered to my care, the legal papers of inden- 
ture being signed October 13, 1888. Frederick 
was baptized by Rev, I. Anderson, A.M., Junior 



SEVEN ADOPTED INFANTS 211 

Chaplain, Church of Scotland, in Poona, June 
29, 1888. He was a sweet, lovely baby, but 
died of measles, on the 6th day of April, 1889. 



ESTHER MILLER 

At the dead of night Mrs. Isaac, the aged 
mother of my dear Mrs. Moses, came to our 
Castle door and begged the servants to call the 
doctor. I was summoned, and she presented to 
me a wee infant seven days old, which she had 
until now kept concealed behind her sari. She 
said, ' ' Dr. Sahib, three times I have rescued 
this child from the grave, three times its mother 
has undertaken to butcher it, each time I have 
snatched it away and saved its life. Now she is 
going away and she will surely kill it. She is de- 
termined to do so. I cannot take it, there is no 
one else who will. If you wiU take it you can 
save its hfe." I took it. I could not refuse. 
What would you have done ? 

The above circumstances occurred on the first 
day of October, 1888, the wee baby, whom we 
named Esther MiUer, having been born Septem- 
ber 24, 1888, seven days prior to this event. 

The name of Esther's mother was Pauline 
DeSouza. She was a Goanese. Esther's father, 
however, was a wealthy Parsee, having a wife 
and children of his own; but Pauline DeSouza 
was his domestic servant. Little Esther MiUer, 
named for a dear friend in America, was bap- 
tized by Bishop C. H. Fowler, on February 7, 
1889. She died of measles on the 5th day of 
April, 1889. 



CHAPTER XVI 

' ' IN HIS NAME AND FOR HIS SAKE ' ' 

In the dim and quiet chamber 

Of our Castle, in Bombay, 
One by one my four sweet babies 

In their last, long slumber lay. 

There was Esther, tiny Esther, 
Who had never seen the morn 

Had her mother's murderous purpose 
Been achieved, when she was born. 

But they wrested from her bosom 

Quick the child whose life was doomed ; 

And they brought her to the Castle — 
Knowing, I her care assumed. 

Wealthy Parsee, Esther's father. 
With a wife and children true ; 

But our little foundling's mother 
Was his servant, faithful, too. 

Goanese, this servant mother. 
Tall and dark and handsome she ; 

But with suUen, angry bearing, 
Such as one might fear to see. 

Swarthy, shrivelled, Parsee baby, 
Fruit of human sin and lust ; 

Wee black eyes and hair as dusky. 
What a mite of mortal dust ! 

(213/ 



"in his name and for his sake" 213 

But we rubbed away the wrinkles 
From her limbs, so thin and bare ; 

And we gave to httle Esther 
All a mother's tender care. 

Xiacked she not for warm embraces, 

Nor for kisses on her cheek ; 
Nor for any tender token, 

Which a mother's love might speak. 

Lacked she not a creature comfort. 
In the nurs'ry large and bright, 

Anxiously we tended o'er her 
Every hour, by day, by night. 

Every need, before she felt it. 
Was supplied with gentle care ; 

For I thought — unto the Master 
I will glad this burden bear. 

Then I learned to love my baby 

For her own dear, httle sake ; 
And when Jesus took her from me 

Oh, how sore my heart did ache ! 

Only six months had been numbered 
Since they brought her to the door 

Of our great Khetwadi Castle, 
On fair India's coral shore. 

Only six months since I took her — 
Naked infant, seven days old — 

When the pale horse to our castle 

Came with rider, swift ^nd bold. ^ 



214 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Vain we strove his course to hinder, 
Entered he our nurs'ry bright, 

Bore away our baby Esther 

Through the darkness of the night. 

Bore away to realms of glory 
Other infant foundlings, too. 

Each of whom I'd watched and tended 
With affection warm and true — 

Watched and tended for the Master, 
" In His Name " and " For His Sake " ; 

Trusting that the service rendered. 
Even thus, my Lord would take. 

There was Truman, dear, sweet Truman,, 
(Parents both from E'rin's shore) 

Fair and fragile as a lily, 
All his pains he patient bore. 

Left alone, his widowed mother. 
With four other children dear. 

She must needs give up her baby 
That she might another's rear. 

Thus our little Truman's mother 
Kept starvation from her brood. 

While some wealthy lady's infant 
Thrived upon her baby's food. 

Who can know the bitter a aguish. 
That did rend her mother- heart, 

When she signed the legal papers 
Which must sever them apart ? 



" IN HIS NAME AND FOR HIS SAKE " 215 

What suppressed and smothered sorrow 

Trembled in her tender breast, 
When a stranger's infant suckled 

Where her own was wont to rest ! 

Who can know the pain, the torture. 
Who can count the tears she shed, 

When the bitter tidings reached her 
That her darhng babe was dead ? 

God alone such grief can measure, 

He alone her tears can count ; 
May He send such peace and comfort, 

As can flow but from His fount ! 

Pass we on to Myrtle's cradle: 

European-turk was she. 
With a mixture of Eurasian, 

Hence the olive cheek you see. 

Ask me not about her parents, 

So unworthy of the name. 
Not a word could say of either 

But would cause a blush of shame. 

Never came a sweeter baby 

Into this great world of woe ; 
Chnging arms, and nesthng figure — 

Oh, I loved her, loved her so ! 

Great brown eyes so full of meaning, 
Eloquent with love they seemed ; 

When she saw me toward her moving, 
How her face with rapture beamed ! 



216 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Soft brown curls which clung and clustered 

O'r her ohve neck and brow; 
Dimpled chin and cheek and shoulder, 

AH forever quiet now. 

MeUow cooing, ripphng laughter, 
We may never hear them more ; 

For the Lord Himself hath called her 
To His bright, celestial shore. 

Did He know her cMnging nature, 
Beauteous face and graceful mien, 

Would involve her in more danger 
Than we e'er could have foreseen ? 

Did he take her from the trouble, 

And the sorrow of this life ; 
E'en to save her from its perils. 

From its dangers, and its strife ? 

We will trust it all to Jesus, 
Feeling sure He knoweth best ; 

And we'U question not His dealing, 
But in His great love we'll rest. 

Next we come to little Aaron, 

Whom his widowed mother sold — 

Sold away her new-born baby 
For a tiny bit of gold. 

Less than seven paltry dollars — 

Price for human infant paid ; 
E'en upon our Castle threshold 

Such a deal as this was made. 



" IN HIS NAME AND FOR HIS SAKE " 217 

But the people who had bought him 

Soon grew weary of his care, 
And begrudged the small allowance 

Daily spended for his fare. 

Then they brought him to the Castle, 

Starving, dying of neglect; 
There was no one else to save him, 

How could I the child reject ? 

^ ' In His Name ' ' I paid the money — 

Rupees sixty, all they sought ; 
Just three time what he had cost them. 

But I reckoned gold as naught — 

Naught, when measured in the balance 

'Gainst a human being's hfe! 
And our babe had well-nigh perished 

At the hands of this man's wife. 

Long 'twould take to tell the story, 
How we nursed him day and night — 

OiUng, bathing, rubbing, feeding; 
Aye, it was a desp'rate fight 

To restore the little body. 

Wasted till no flesh was there. 
Milk we gave him through a dropper. 

Thrice each hour, with tenderest care. 

So unhke a human infant, 

Wasted, wrinkled, wan was he ; 

But for many months, untiring, 
He was nursed most tenderly. 



218 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Then an angel from the Father 
Came, one hot and sultry night, 
Bore away our baby Aaron 
To the realms of endless light. 

Then I sat alone in sorrow. 

Disappointed, sore bereft ; 
Those wee forms all sweetly mantled 

For the tomb, by fingers deft. 

Then I questioned — " Why this sorrow, 
Why this grief and why this pain ? 

Did I take these foundhng children 
That /might some bliss obtain? " 

Nay, but then, I'd learned to love them, 
And the sacrifice was sweet ; 

And, somehow, I hoped to make them 
For the Master's service meet. 

•' ' All my labor has been wasted ! ' ' 
Thus, in bitterness, I thought ; 

" All the wealth of love I lavished. 
All my hours, spent for naught ! ' ' 

Pond 'ring still in prayerful sorrow. 
To my heart contentment came ; 

For I knew that I had done it 

" For His Sake " and " In His Name ". 



CHAPTER XVII 

OUR SERVANTS 

There were seventeen of them — besides ray- 
dear little housekeeper, Miss Isabella Jane Bel- 
cham, whom I alvv^ays called "Birdie", and 
Mrs. Moses, my fluent interpreter. 

Our quiet and dignified butler, who stood at 
the head of our large staff of domestic servants, 
was so competent, so kind; and, withal, so gen- 
tlemanly, that he commanded the respect of 
everybody about the place, servants, nurses, 
patients and guests. I never saw his equal, as 
butler, in any country. Never was his voice 
raised above his low-pitched, subdued ordinary 
tone; and yet the other servants fell into line, 
and obeyed his orders like well trained and mar- 
shalled soldiers of the regular army. A look, a 
gesture, or a whispered word was sufficient, and 
the hamal, boy, and other servants instantly 
obeyed. Nothing pleased him better than a 
house fuU of distinguished guests, and a big 
Khana liaziri. On such occasions it was only 
necessary to inform the butler of the number of 
guests to be served, and he could be relied upon 
for the rest. During the entire term of his ser- 
vice in Khetwadi Castle, which extended over a 
period of nearly two years duration, I never 
once needed to say, ' ' Butler, why did you do 

(221) . 



222 KHETWADI CASTLE 

thus '? ' ' Or, ' ' Why did you not do so and so ? ' ^ 
He knew his work far better than I could tell 
him, and I never found occasion to reprove or 
correct him. 

The butler was a Hindu priest, and stood at 
the head of his caste. He was well educated in 
his own native tongue ; and had sufficient knowl- 
edge of the English language to be able to con- 
verse fluently, and to read and write fairly well 
in that tongue. During his leisure hours he 
could usually be found sitting underneath the 
hall stairway, in a quiet corner, reading our Eng- 
lish Bible, the Pilgrim's Progress, or some other 
religious work which he had borrowed from me, 
or from some member of our household. Fin- 
ally, however, our good butler fell seriously ill, 
and then his faithful assistants, rather than 
allow me to engage another servant in his place, 
did extra work, in order to hold his position for 
him until he should be sufficiently recovered to 
resume his former duties. 

When he grew seriously worse I had him 
brought and placed in one of our hospital beds, 
and he was nursed and cared for as a regular 
patient. During this time he confessed to me his 
faith in the Christian religion and in the Lord 
Jesus Christ, but explained that he had main- 
tained silence in regard to the matter for the sake 
of his wife and family. When he knew that 
death was near he decided that, for their sakes 
and especially for the sake of his wife, it would 
be best for him to die in his own home ; and so 



OUR SERVANTS 223 

he was carried on a stretcher to his distant house 
in the native city, where his father's family re- 
sided, and where his own goods were stowed. 

After his removal I visited him several times 
every day until his death. During my last visit I 
asked him if there were any requests which he 
would hke to make before his death ; to which he 
repHed, ' ' No, Doctor Sahiba, only this, pray for 
me. Not here, not now, because, if before all these 
people I profess my belief in your rehgion, they 
will persecute my wife and give her trouble after 
I am gone ; but at home, at your family altar, and 
in private, pray for me — I know you do. I want 
you to knovr that I believe in the Christian re- 
hgion, and that I die trusting in Jesus Christ. ' ' 
These were his last words to me, and so he 
passed away. 

The liamal was a middle aged, care-v orn native 
man, whose duty it was to attend upon the door, 
set the table, wash the dishes, dust the furniture 
and the hke. " The boy " was a mere lad, but 
bright and intelhgent. He waited upon the 
table with the hamal, and made himself gener- 
ally useful about the place, cleaning lamps, run- 
ning of errands, washing windows, etc. 

Domingo, the cook, was a Goanese and a 
Roman Cathohc. He never left the kitchen for 
any purpose whatever, except once daily, in the 
early, early morning, to go to the bazaar for the 
purpose of purchasing food for that day's con- 
sumption. His httle assistant, a young native 
boy of his own caste, carried the provisions from 



224 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the market to the Castle, and waited upon his 
master, the cook, in various and sundry ways. 
The Ayah (child's nurse, or lady's maid) is the 
only female domestic servant in India, except, 
indeed, it be the sweeper servant who may be 
either a woman or a man. In our Khetwadi 
Castle we required, and usually had in our em- 
ploy, several ayahs. There were two child's 
ayahs — one who did day duty in the nursery, 
from 6 A. M. until 8 p. m. ; and one who did 
night duty, from 8 p. m. until 6 a. m. These day 
and night ayahs, however, required constant 
assistance, and even more constant watching. 
They could not be trusted to attend to the Httle 
folks in accordance with instructions; and, as 
long as I was able to be out of bed, a night 
never passed during which I did not myself per- 
sonally visit the nursery once in every two hours, 
or oftener, in order to make sure that all was 
well there. We had seven children in the nursery, 
all of whom were under three years of age, five 
of them being less than six months old. It re- 
quired more than two hands, night or day, to 
supply the numerous wants of the nursery, and 
more than one nurse to preside successfully over 
our seven adopted babies. As often as possible 
I myself bathed the children in the evening, and 
my sister. Birdie, or some one of the nurses, 
looked after the bottles, and attended to the 
preparation of the condensed milk every two 
hours during the day. There was also the tall 
ayah, who assisted in the care of the children 



OUR SERVANTS 225 

during the day, besides serving in the capacity 
of chamber-maid in the hospital, 

' ' The black Ayah ' ' was a small, lithe, live, 
wide awake, dark-faced httle woman, so full of 
energy, wit, good humor and kind-heartedness 
as to render her a general favorite among the 
servants, and a source of entertainment and 
amusement to patients, nurses and guests ahke. 

No one ever seemed to know just what her 
specific duties were ; but that she was needed, 
always and everywhere, was apparent to all. 
Without anybody seeming to be aware of it the 
black Ayah really bossed, or perhaps it would be 
better to say led, the whole staff of servants in 
Khetwadi Castle, It was she who invented, 
suggested, and guided every new thought and 
enterprise. Had the black Ayah been less kind- 
hearted and generous, and more malicious, she 
would have proved a mischief-maker and gossip 
of the worst type. As it was, her influence al- 
ways seemed to be exerted in the right direction, 
and tended to harmony and good-feehng rather 
than the reverse ; and this, notwithstanding the 
fact that she as a great talker — the one ser- 
vant about the place who carried all the news 
and spread all tidings abroad. Prompted by 
her kind, friendly heart, she always seemed to 
place the best construction upon whatever inci- 
dent she wished to relate, and to attribute the 
best motives to all parties concerned; and, 
though a gossip, yet she seemed to be a harmless 
one. As a matter of fact we all Uked the little, 



226 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Ugly, black Ayah, and admired her in spite of 
her plain face and many personal eccentricities. 

Bhanna, our good, one-eyed coachman, was a 
character ; and to describe him would be a diffi- 
cult task indeed. Though having marked char- 
acteristics of his own, and possessing a rare 
personality, yet, somehow, he seemed to be a 
very part of his rig — one and inseparable from 
his horse and carriage; while our horse Tom 
seemed to partake of the nature and personnel 
of his master Bhanna. They were both tall, 
lean, agile, spirited and quick in every motion. 
Bhanna loved his horse with an affection which 
was as genuine as it was deep. 

Bhanna had been Tom's master during his 
own young days, when Tom belonged to a dash- 
ing yoang officer in the English army ; and when 
he was so full of life and spirit that no coach- 
man, save Bhanna only, dare undertake to lead 
him to water, or to ride or drive him. With 
pride Bhanna would tell of the devastation to 
carriages, and the peril to life, which had come 
about through the uncontrollable feats of his 
favorite horse, Tom. His pale cheek would flush 
with pride, and his one dark eye flash, when he 
recounted the various instances in which Tom's 
strength, energy, and high spirits had proven 
too much for his master and disastrous to his 
carriage. 

Now, in his old age, for Tom was decidedly 
old and could no longer be fattened, he was still 
so spirited that I had found great difficulty in 



OUR SERVANTS 227 

engaging any coachman who would venture to 
drive him, much less undertake the constant 
care of him. Bhanna, however, as soon as his 
eyes fell upon the horse, recognized his old army 
officer's blooded steed, the pride of his own 
prime ; and he at once begged for the position of 
coachman of the Castle. What a faithful ser- 
vant he proved to be ! I feel sure that Bhanna 
would have suffered for food himself rather 
than neglect Tom. Always ready, willing, 
obedient and loyal, Bhanna was an exceptional 
servant. 

When called to visit an out-patient, night or 
day, I usually stepped to the upper veranda and 
called to Bhanna, ' ' Gari taiyar curro ' ' (make 
ready the carriage) ; to which Bhanna would in- 
stantly reply, in his own peculiarly pleasant voice 
with its rising inflection, ' ' Hai, Dr. Sahib, gari 
ahhi taiyar hai .' " (I am here. Dr. Sir, the 
carriage is now ready.) And this in spite of the 
fact that he had not yet started, or was only 
just starting, to harness the horse. The reply 
was simply intended to convey the idea that the 
work would be done so quickly that it was 
equivalent to being then ready. And, indeed, it 
took Bhanna but a very few moments to prepare 
for a drive. Often, before I myself was fully 
ready, the carriage would be driven around to the 
front door ; and, in his green and scarlet uniform, 
Bhanna would stand at the door of our hand- 
some httle brougham, waiting for me to come. 

Bhanna was not long with us until he gave 



228 KHETWADI CASTLE 

his heart to the Lord Jesus, and became an 
earnest Christian man, being baptized by our 
beloved Bishop Fowler, on Sunday, February 3, 
1889, while the Bishop, Mrs. Fowler and their 
son, Carl, were guests in our Khetwadi Castle. 
The Bishop presented Bhanna with a Bible in 
the Marathi language, of which he was very 
proud; though he was quite unable to read. 
Afterward Bhanna often asked our good butler 
to read his Bible aloud to him, which the butler 
always seemed glad to do. 

There is not much to be said about our little 
Malee (gardener) a quiet, slow-spoken, sad-faced ; 
but, withal, rather ill-tempered servant, who 
attended to our compound (front and back yard, 
or lawns) and provided flowers for our dining 
table and hospital v/ards. 

Nor is there much to be said about the 
two Dirzees, who sat in the sewing-room, and 
pUed the needle from 9 o'clock a. m. until 6 
o'clock p. M., preparing wardrobes for the seven 
small children who had, so recently, come to us 
without an article of clothing. It was no small 
task to provide even the simplest, plainest gar- 
ments for so many little folk, all at one time. 
Nor did it involve any trifling expense ; although 
the clothing which I provided for them was of 
the plainest, and simplest description, though 
necessarily of a good quality ; and, of course, in 
a climate hke that of India, a large number of 
changes was really necessary for each child. The 
Dirzees were both elderly men; quiet, sedate, 
industrious, and good seamsters. 




3 


~H 


-1 


— < 


-^ 


■^ 


q 








o 


cc 














li.' 


CI 


u4 


^ 







OUR SERVANTS 231 

The ChowMdar (night watchman) was, Kke 
the coachman, tall, lean, strong and active. He 
kept guard of Khetwadi Castle and its inmates 
from late evening until early morning, walking 
up and down, around and about the Castle, to 
see that nothing went wrong; pounding his 
heavy cudgel upon the ground at frequent inter- 
vals, by way of notifying his mistress that he 
was reaUy awake, and attending to his duty; 
occasionally, by way of variety and for the same 
purpose, shouting out in such a manner as to 
awaken the neighbors, if they were not accus- 
tomed to such weird midnight screams. During 
the day-time the Choivkidar was supposed to 
sleep ; but, as a matter of fact, he was often up 
and about; ready, if necessary, to go of an 
errand, post letters, etc. 

Concerning the Dhobie, or laundryman, an 
English writer has said: " I am an amateur phil- 
osopher and amuse myself detecting essence 
beneath semblance and tracing the same princi- 
ple running through things the outward aspect 
of which is widely different. I have studied the 
Dhobie in this spirit and find him to be nothing 
else than an example of the abnormal develop- 
ment, under favorable conditions, of a disposi- 
tion which is not only common to humanity, but 
pervades the whole animal kingdom. A puppy 
rending shppers, a child tearing up its picture 
books, a mungoose kilhng twenty chickens to 
feed on one, a freethinker demolishing ancient 
superstitions, what are they all but Dliobies in 
embryo ? 



232 KHETWADI CASTLE 

' ' Destruction is so much easier than construc- 
tion, and so much more rapid and abundant in 
its visible results, that the devastator feels jubi- 
lant joy in his work, of which the tardy builder 
knows nothing. As the lightning scorns the oak, 
as the fire triumphs over the venerable pile, so 
the Dhobie, dashing your cambric and fine linen 
against the stones, shattering a button, fraying 
a hem, or rending a seam at every stroke, feels 
a triumphant contempt for the miserable crea- 
ture whose plodding needle and thread put the 
garment together. This feeling is the germ from 
which the Dliohie has grown. Day after day he 
has stood before that great black stone and 
wreaked his rage upon shirt and trouser and 
coat, and coat and trowser and shirt. Then he 
has wrung them as if he were wringing the 
necks of poultry, and fixed them on his drying 
line with thorns and spikes, and finally he has 
taken the battered garments to his torture cham- 
ber and ploughed them with his iron, longwise 
and crosswise and slantwise, and dropped glow- 
ing cinders on their tenderest places. Son has 
followed father through countless generations in 
cultivating this passion for destruction, until it 
has become the monstrous growth which we see 
and shudder at in the Dhobte. 

"But I find in him, at least, an illustration of 
another human infirmity. He takes in hand to 
eradicate the dirt which defiles the garment. 
But the one is closely mingled with the very 
fibres of the other, the one is impalpable, the 



OUR SERVANTS 233 

other bulky and substantial, and so the torrent 
of his zealous rage unconsciously turns against 
the very substance of that which he set himself 
lovingly to purge and restore to its primative 
purity. Indeed, I sometimes find that, while he 
has successfully wrecked the garment, he has 
overlooked the dirt! Greater and better men 
than the DJiobie are employed in the same way. 
"Such are the consolations of philosophy, 
' But there was never yet philosopher 
Who could endure the toothache patiently, ' 
much less the Dhohie. He is not tolerable. 
Submit to him we must, since resistance is futile ; 
but his craven spirit makes submission difficult 
and resignation impossible. If he had the soul 
of a conqueror, if he wasted you like Attilla, if 
he flung his iron into the clothes-basket and cried 
Vae victis, then a feeling of respect would soften 
the bitterness of the conquered; but he conceals 
his ravages like the white ant, and you are be- 
trayed in the hour of need. When he comes in, 
limping and groaning under his stupendous bun- 
dle and lays out khamees, pyatloon, and pjama, 
all so fair and decently folded, and delivers 
them by tale in a voice whose monotonous 
cadence seems to teU of some undercurrent of 
perennial sorrow in his life, who could guess 
what horrors his perfidious heart is privy to ? 
Next morning, when you spring from your 
tub and shake out the great jail towel which is 
to wrap your shivering person in its warm folds, 
lo ! it yawns from end to end. There is nothing 



234 KHETWADI CASTLE 

but a border, a fringe, left. You fling on your 
clothes in unusual haste, for it is mail day morn- 
ing. The most indispensable of them all has 
scarcely a remnant of a button remaining. You 
snatch up another which seems in better condi- 
tion, and scramble into it ; but, in the course of 
the day, a cold current of wind, penetrating 
where it ought not, maizes you aware of what 
your friends behind your back have noticed for 
some time, viz., that the starch with which a 
gaping rent had been carefully gummed together, 
that you might not see it, has melted and given 
way. 

' ' The thought of these things makes a man 
feel like Vesuvius on the eve of an eruption ; but 
you must wait for relief till Dhobie day next 
week, and then the poltroon has stayed at home, 
and sent his brother to report that he is suffering 
from a severe stomach ache. When the miscreant 
makes his next appearance in person, he stands 
on one leg, with joined palms and a piteous 
bleat, and pleads an alibi. He was absent 
about the marriage of a relation, and his brother 
washed the clothes. So your lava falls back into 
its crater, or, I am afraid, more often overflows 
the surrounding country. ' ' 

As a matter of fact, while all Dhobies may not 
be equally destructive to clothing, the Dhobie of 
Khetwadi Castle was not one but many, since 
we were ever searching for a better one ; which, 
however, we never succeeded in finding. 

The Gowlee, or Doodtvallah, that dignified per- 



OUR SERVANTS 235 

sonage who walks into the back yard, erect as a 
palm tree, with a tiara of graduated milk-pods 
on his head and preceded by a snorting buffalo, 
is Gopal himself. The buffalo represents abso- 
lute milk and the pyramid of brass lotas, from 
the two-gallon vessel at the base to the one- 
quarter seer measure at the top, represent suc- 
cessive degrees of dilution with gutter water, 
taken from the roadside ditches. If interro- 
gated as to the lack of cream from the milk 
received on the previous day, Gopal assures me 
that he supposed we needed milk for coffee and 
tea, not for butter making. That kind of milk 
has no butter in it, but if I want milk for butter- 
making he will supply me with a different kind 
of milk ; which, however, will cost me something 
extra. His resources are very great, and he has 
various and sundry kinds of milk — there are 
kinds from which butter cannot be made, and 
there are kinds from which butter can be made. 
I tell him that I want the kind from which but- 
ter can be made, although I do not wish to make 
butter. Indeed, I ask him for the best quality 
of milk which he can give me. He then empties 
into my vessel a quantity of milk from the 
large copper vessel, at the base of his pyramid, 
assuring me that this is the best and richest 
milk that can be had anywhere. I bring my 
milk tester and pour a smaU quantity in, and 
then assure him that he has added precisely 
such or such a quantity of water to this milk. 
Whereupon he looks at me in amazement ; and, 



236 KHETWADI CASTLE 

holding up both hands, declares that I am a 
goddess, that I have some witchery by which 
I can discover water, and the precise amount 
of water which has been added to the milk. 
After this I am able to induce him to bring his 
buffalo and milk it in my presence, which he 
does ; and, if I continue to test his milk on each 
particular occasion, and to watch him while the 
cow is being milked, I will in all probability 
obtain good pure milk ; but if, after the first two 
or three days of this method, I become careless, 
and trust to my Doodivallah' s integrity, leaving 
him to himself, or to be watched by one of the 
servants only, I wiU very soon find that my milk 
is not the kind which will produce cream, or from 
which butter can be made ; and, if I test it, I will 
find that it contains one-fourth, or perhaps one- 
half gutter water. 

In addition to the foregoing domestic servants 
there is the Matar and Matranie (sweeper man and 
woman), who, in Bombay, are supplied by the 
English Government, and one of whom comes 
to the Castle two or three times per day, and 
carries away all filth and rubbish from the 
premises, sweeping up the back yard each time. 

We do not in India board any servant ; but, in 
the metropolitan city of Bombay, where English 
customs prevail to such a great extent, and 
where the rules of caste are less strictly observed 
than, perhaps, in any other part of India, the 
servants usually supply themselves, and often 
their families as weU, with food from your 




MATRAKIE iMATAR 

[Sweeper servants enuiiged in their ordinary occupation of carrying 
:i\vuy tlie filth of the city.] 



OUR SERVANTS 239 

pantry. To partake of European food, from 
dishes used by Christian people, is supposed to 
break the caste of any native in any part of In- 
dia; and, if this practice were reported at any 
caste meeting, the party thus transgressing the 
caste laws would be disgraced among his people, 
and would be considered to have broken his caste. 
Nevertheless this practice of petty larceny, among 
the servants of Bombay, is so universally prac- 
ticed that it is tacitly approved of by them; 
and a servant is considered to have a right to 
whatever food he may need from his master's 
supply closet. Indeed, when the matter comes 
to the knowledge of the master and mistress, 
they are apt to overlook it, and they certainly 
will do so if they are generous, kind-hearted 
people, and consider how very small is the salary 
paid to their servants, and how insufficient it 
must be for the needs of a family. 

Every morning immediately after breakfast, 
before any member of the family had left the 
table, and after aU our domestic servants had 
gathered in and taken their seats around us on 
the floor of our pleasant dining-room, it was my 
custom to conduct family worship. Usually I 
read some passage, a chapter or more, from God's 
Word in my own English tongue, after which 
Sunderbai Powar, or Mrs. Moses, would read 
the same, or some other scripture lesson, in the 
Hindoostani language; so that all the servants 
could understand. However, nearly all our ser- 
vants in Bombay were sufficiently famiUar with 
the Enghsh language to be able to understand. 



24:0 KHETWADI CASTLE 

and even to speak in that tongue. After this a 
verse or two of some Christian hymn would be 
sung, sometimes in English and sometimes in 
Hindoostani, and then I would lead in prayer, 
my words being repeated by Sunderbai, or Mrs, 
Moses, in Hindoostani, sentence by sentence. 
At other times Sunderbai, or Mrs. Moses, would 
themselves lead in prayer in the Hindoostani 
language. At the close of the extemporaneous 
petition the Lord's prayer was always repeated 
in concert by all the members of the family, 
the servants often uniting with us. We never, 
while in Khetwadi Castle, had family worship in 
the evening, as we found it difficult if not im- 
possible to get the members of our family 
together at any evening hour. 

On Sunday afternoons, in the lecture room of 
the Castle, a regular Bible reading and prayer 
service was conducted for the benefit of the ser- 
vants. This meeting was generally led by Sun- 
derbai Powar; but I often attended it, and 
addressed a few words to the servants, and prayed 
with them. At other times I invited Mr. Bruere, 
the pastor of the native church, or Mrs. Bruere, 
or some other missionary, to conduct this ser- 
vice. The servants were all in the habit of at- 
tending this meeting regularly, none of them 
habitually absenting themselves, with the excep- 
tion of the cook, who was a Roman Catholic, 
and the sweeper woman who did not live on the 
premises, and who could not be allowed to 
attend a meeting with high caste natives. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

A CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR OUR SERVANTS 

During the evening of December 25, 1888, my 
sister and I gave a Christmas dinner to our ser- 
vants. Everything had been previously arranged, 
and we had gone to as much trouble, labor, ex- 
pense and painstaking as we could have done had 
the dinner been intended for a company^ of dis- 
tinguished guests. 

Of course there was no dining table needed, 
as our servants would not sit upon chairs at a 
table to partake of food. Therefore the dining 
table was drawn together as much as possible, 
and placed against the waU at one end of the 
room ; while the servants sat around on the floor 
in a half circle. A large quantity of the best 
Indian rice had been cooked in the manner pecu- 
liar to India, and with it was served chicken 
curry, egg curry, fish curry and meat curries, 
prepared in the most delicious manner. Besides 
this we had other, ordinary kinds of food, such 
as we would use upon our own table, not omit- 
ting the inevitable Christmas cake and Christmas 
pudding. We also had fruit, nuts and sweets 
in abundance. My sister, Sunderbai, Mrs. Moses, 
several of our Christian nurses and I constituted 
ourselves servants to our servants on that occa- 
sion, and served them. 

(241) 



242 KHETWADI CASTLE 

When all was ready, and a plate piled with 
dehcious food had been set on the floor in front 
of each servant, but before any one had par- 
taken of it, the black Ayah spoke up and said, 
' ' Now Bootlair, since the Dr. Sahib has given us 
this dinner, you should say grace as the Chris- 
tians do." This she said in great seriousness. 
Then the servants all bowed forward until their 
heads nearly touched the floor, and the Butler 
returned thanks in a few, simple appropriate 
words, as any Christian gentleman might do in 
any Christian home. Of course my sister and I 
were greatly surprised at this; but among the 
servants it caused no embarrassment or con- 
straint; and, immediately afterward, thinking 
they would better enjoy the dinner and visiting 
without me, I was about to leave the room, when 
the black Ayah detained me. She had risen to 
her feet, bowed in a low salaam, and began sing- 
ing a sweet, sad, Hindoostani air, which she con- 
tinued to its close. 

Then she spoke again in words to the follow- 
ing effect: ''Dr. Sahib, we have worked in 
many an English home, we have served many 
English masters and mistresses ; and, when their 
great day comes, they usually send to us a little 
money, or a new sari, or piigrah, or some pres- 
ent, because it is their big day ; but they do not 
come to see if we like it, or if we had need of it 
— they do not care whether we are happy or not. 
Never before in our lives did any master or 
mistress come down to make us a dinner, to 



A CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR OUR SERVANTS 243 

serve us with their own hands, or to enjoy see- 
ing us happy. None of them ever cared if we 
were so or not. This is the greatest day of our 
lives. We will count our children's ages from 
this date, and will reckon all things good that 
come to us in our future lives as dated from this 
hour. ' ' When she had thus spoken she bowed 
low again and took her seat. Then the Butler 
stood up and said that the Ayah had spoken out 
of her own heart, but that she had expressed 
what they all felt. 

I could not then leave the little company until 
I had answered their kind, appreciative words. 
I began by telling them about the great Father 
of us all ; and how, when we had fallen into sin, 
He gave His Son to suffer and to die, in order 
that we might be brought back to Him, to His 
love, and to His home. This He did, not for me 
only, not for Enghsh people only, not for mis- 
sionaries only, but for them just as much as for 
us ; they were each and all His children, just as 
we were, and He loved them just as deeply, just 
as truly. I said, my gift of this dinner to you 
is nothing, it is the least thing that I can do ; 
but He, the great God and Father of us all, so 
loved us that He gave His well- beloved and only 
begotten Son, that we might not perish but 
might have everlasting life. The Lord Jesus 
Christ was born on this Christmas day ; and ever 
since that time Christian people, the world over, 
have kept this day in memory; and, because 
God gave His Son for us, we have learned to 



244: KHETWADI CASTLE 

give good gifts to our friends, in memory of His 
great, best gift. 

I cannot now remember all that I said on the 
occasion of that Christmas dinner; but I do 
know I said words to the above effect; and 
that I also exhorted them earnestly to accept 
God's great gift in the person of His Son, and to 
love Him because of this gift, and to accept the 
salvation that the Lord had purchased for them 
by His suffering and death. After this my sister, 
my nurses and I withdrew, leaving the servants 
to enjoy their dinner together, as we afterward 
learned they did most thoroughly. 




ROMAN CATHOLIC ROSARY. .MOHAMMEDAN PRAYER HEADS. 
HINDU I'R.VYER I!E.U)S. HIDDHIST NUN PRAYER HEADS 






** is <o> 



SANDAL (^F A HINDI 



AKIR.OR RELIGIOUS DEVOTICE 



CHAPTER XIX 

HINDUISM, MOHAMMEDANISM, ROMANISM 

It is a curious and an interesting fact that in 
India, among the Hindus and Mohammedans 
ahke, we find superstitious prejudices and rehg- 
ious ceremonies and customs, in many respects, 
similar to those prevalent among the Eoman 
Catholic people of our own country. Beads of 
prayer very Uke the Roman Catholic rosary are 
used by both Mohammedan and Hindu people. 

Before us we have the picture of a Roman 
Catholic rosary, a string of Mohammedan prayer 
beads, and a string of Hindu prayer beads, aU of 
which were purchased at the same place. The 
Mohammedan and Roman Catholic rosaries are so 
similar as to be indistinguishable, except for the 
cross, which is attached to the end of the Roman 
Cathohc string, but not to that of the Moham- 
medan, These beads of prayer are used for the 
same purpose, and counted in the same manner 
by Hindus, Mohammedans and Roman Catholics. 

The fourth rosary in the picture before us is a 
rare trophy from China, whence it was brought 
by Rev, and Mrs. WoodaU, missionaries of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in China, 

The beads were presented to Mrs, WoodaU by 
a Buddhist nun, whom she and her husband had 
befriended during a time of extreme emergency 

(247) 



248 KHETWADI CASTLE 

and distress. Each bead is made from a very- 
hard kind of nut, being exquisitely carved by 
hand into a Buddhist idol, and each bead repre- 
sents a different deity. They are said to be very 
rare and costly. 

During prayer the worshiper is supposed to 
hold between the fingers the bead representing 
the particular deity whom she, or he, wishes to 
supplicate. 

The Buddhist nun, to whom the beads belonged, 
was clad in a single gray garment, which fell, 
robe-like, from the neck to the ankles. Her 
head was shaven and the scalp was marked, on 
the top of the head, by curiously shaped scars, 
where it had been branded by a hot iron. 

Mrs. Woodall assured me that, in China , the 
Buddhists have nuns, monks, priests, and mon- 
asteries, similar to those of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 

Hindus and Buddhists everywhere inflict upon 
themselves penance, and their priests require it 
of them. 

The sandal in the picture is rudely made from an 
ordinary block of wood, and is the kind worn by 
the Hindu fakir, or religious devotee. The tall, 
button-like projection near the toe of the sandal, 
passes between the great and second toes, being 
grasped by them in such a manner as to hold 
the sandal beneath the foot. The upper surface 
of the sandal is covered with small indentations, 
where sharp pebbles are placed, which serve to 
lacerate the feet of the wearer, as he makes his 




TWO SILVER CHARjr-CASES, SHOWING THE PROTECTIVE 
DOCUMENTS WHICH THEY COXTAIXED 




A DOUHLi;, KOMAX CATHOLIC rllAHM. OK SCAPULAR 



HINDUISM, MOHAMMEDANISM, ROMANISM 251 

journey to some distant shrine or holy river. 
Thus his feet are torn and bruised, and become 
inflamed and ulcerated, until, perhaps, he faints 
by the wayside, on account of this self-inflicted 
torture. 

The two silver charms represented in the pic- 
ture were presented to me by Hindu servants after 
they became Christians, and had been worn on 
their persons from early childhood until the date of 
their conversion. They are pure silver cases, or 
boxes, which fold over at one end, and can be 
opened at discretion. These boxes contain a bit of 
paper, which has been written upon by a Hindu or 
Mohammedan priest, in an unknown tongue. 
This writing involves heavy expense to the par- 
ent of the child who is to wear the charm; 
but, when a son is born to any father in 
India, his life is considered to be so precious 
that the father will go to any expense, and 
make any sacrifice, in order to obtain charms 
of this sort, with which to protect the health and 
hfe of his son. Such a charm worn about the 
neck, on the arm, or on any part of the person, 
is supposed to protect the individual thus adorned 
from the evil eye, from cholera, small-pox, 
leprosy and the like. 

The silver cases containing the charm-paper, 
which has been written upon by the holy 
priest, may be made of almost any shape 
or size; but must be pure, unalloyed silver, 
and sufficiently large to contain the document. 
Young sons of wealthy Hindn and Mohamme- 



252 KHETWADI CASTLE 

dan parents are usually adorned with a large 
number of these charms, and each one is sup- 
posed to protect the child from some special 
harm. From wealthy parents the priest exacts 
enormous fees for his service of writing the pro- 
tective words, and for performing the peculiar 
ceremonies necessary to make the charm effective. 

The curious double charm, represented in the 
picture, is an old, weU-worn Eoman Catholic 
charm. The circular tape is sufficiently large to 
pass over the head, so that one charm hangs over 
the breast, and the other down the back. On one 
of these charms there is a picture of the Virgin 
Mary, holding in her arms the infant Christ, 
while both hold in their hands a double charm, 
like the one before you. Beneath the picture 
are the following French words, as nearly as 
they can be deciphered: " M. E. garde-le comme 
un gage e ma protection speciale. ' ' 

The second charm has a picture of the Virgin 
Mary with the infant Christ, and a Eoman 
Catholic priest kneeling before them, and reach- 
ing up for the charm, while angels, or demons, 
fiU the air above them. Beneath the picture 
are the following French words: "E te le 
donne comme gage de pion amour et de ma 
protection. ' ' 

The Hindu idol and worship, even, are not un- 
hke the Roman Catholic Crucifix and manner of 
worship ; for, while the Roman Cathohc assures 
you that he does not worship the Crucifix, but 
only the Christ which it is supposed to repre- 



HINDUISM, MOHAMMEDANISM, ROMANISM 255 

sent, he does no more and no better than the 
heathen Hindu, who, if he be educated and well 
informed in regard to his own religion, will as- 
sure you that he does not worship the curious 
idols represented in the picture before us, but 
only the deities which these images represent to 
him. 

Among Hindu and Mohammedan people the 
masses are kept in ignorance, the priest only 
being allowed the advantage of a liberal educa- 
tion; and upon him devolves the duty of ex- 
pounding to the ignorant worshiper the import 
of their religious books. As the laity in the 
Roman Catholic Church are not permitted to 
study our Holy Bible ; so the Mohammedan com- 
mon folk are not permitted to peruse their sacred 
Koran ; so the Hindu masses are not allowed the 
privilege of reading their sacred books — the 
Veda, Rig- Veda, Yojur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and 
Atharva-Veda. 

The picture before us represents an old, well- 
worn Mohammedan Koran stand. It is made 
of wood, and exquisitely painted by hand, so 
that the original material is entirely covered 
with the painted blossoms. It has the form of 
a camp-stool, and can be folded up and made 
quite flat. 

The Koran is considered to be so sacred a book, 
that it must not be touched by the hand of any 
ordinary Mohammedan, even though he be able 
to read, and is permitted by the priest to do so. 
He may, however, study his sacred book on 



256 KHETWADI CASTLE 

special and stated occasions. This little stand is 
so arranged as to facilitate the reading of the 
Koran, while its sacred pages are protected from 
the contaminating touch of an ordinary mortal. 
The priest brings the Koran and lays it upon this 
little stand. Then the favored Mohammedan, 
who is thus permitted to peruse its pages, may 
bend above the open book and read without 
touching it. It is not often, however, that this 
privilege is granted. 




A WOODKX. IIAM)-l-AIX'l'i:U KORAN STAND 



CHAPTER XX 

PATIENTS OF KHETWADI CASTLE HOSPITAL 

Our Khetwadi Castle Hospital was capable of 
accommodating fifty patients comfortably ; and, 
while it was never full, yet there was usually a 
goodly number of patients within its wards. 
To recall the name of each patient — to enumer- 
ate them, giving even the briefest synopsis of 
each particular case, would suffice to fill a vol- 
ume, and would prove a heavy task. A few 
special, interesting cases, however, I wiU briefly 
mention. 

There was the wife of EUapa Ballaram, a 
wealthy Hindu architect of Bombay. My treat- 
ment of her really began on the 6 th day of April, 
1887, before the opening of my Khetwadi Castle 
Hospital. Later on, however, she came to my 
Hospital for treatment. She was my very first 
regular, pay patient in Bombay. EUapa Ballaram 
was an exceptional Hindu in having but one wife, 
though wealthy and living in a fine residence in 
the English part of Bombay. His house was 
richly and elegantly furnished in English style ; 
and here his one wife presided as the sole mis- 
tress. In this house there was one large apart- 
ment full of Hindu idols, and my little patient 
spent several hours of every day doing puja 
(worship). She was a very pretty and other- 

(259) 



260 KHETWADI CASTLE 

wise attractive little woman ; and her husband 
once said to me, ' ' I like my wife because she is 
so pious." This confession was made to me in 
confidence. It is by no means considered to be 
essential in India that a man should ' ' like ' ' his 
wife ; nor is it a matter that can be taken for 
granted. Indeed, it is quite exceptional for a 
native gentleman to be fond of his wife. 

Mrs. Isa Dass was also a little high-caste, 
wealthy Hindu patient. She was admitted to our 
Hospital wards for a surgical operation; and 
had to be kept in strict seclusion during the 
whole term of her stay vv^ith us. 

Mrs. Nanabhoy was a dear, little Parsee woman, 
who came into the Hospital for the purpose of 
an operation ; and who became so much attached 
to us all, and enjoyed herself so weU, that she 
remained long after complete recovery. Her 
husband was a vv^ealthy, weU-educated Parsee, 
reading and writing the English language, and 
speaking it fluently. He seemed anxious that 
his pretty little wife should gain similar ac- 
complishments; while she, on her part, took a 
child-like delight in learning to sit upon a chair 
at the dining table, to use her knife and fork in 
eating, to converse in the Eoglish language, 
etc. Indeed, the nurses assured me that she 
protracted her stay with us for the express pur- 
pose of learning English ; and familiarizing her- 
self with European manners and customs. She 
was a bright, sunshiny, happy-minded, affec- 
tionate creature, and endeared herself to every- 



" ilj 


■ 11^ 




'^1 1 






m 




BK 


i 


■ ; '-^ 


♦ i,.^^*'' 


vW 


9k^ 






:.:*' 




m 


i 


1 




^ 


^-.f^"?^ 

.;^' 




PATIENTS OF KHETWADI CASTLE HOSTITAL 263 

body in the institution. Her portrait scarcely 
does her justice, though that of her husband is 
excellent. 

(Mrs. ) Maneekbai Munchershaw Mody and her 
aunt were also wealthy Parsee ladies, who were 
admitted to the wards of our Khetwadi Castle 
Hospital for the purpose of surgical operations ; 
and who proved to be most agreeable and delight- 
ful inmates of our Castle home. 

(Mrs.) Zehaira Beebee Tyabjee and her sister- 
in-law, (Mrs.) Zubedah Beebee Ah Akbar, were 
two very pretty and attractive young Moham- 
medan women; the daughters of two of the 
wealthiest Mohammedan men in Bombay. They 
were, each in turn, occupants of one of our pri- 
vate Hospital wards for a considerable period. 
Each made a perfect recovery, and left us re- 
luctantly, having won the esteem and affection 
of us all. 

(Mrs.) Shewantibai Trimbuck Canaran is a 
well-known native, Christian lady of Bombay. 
Her parents were Brahmins, but became Chris- 
tians inany years ago. For some years past she 
has been engaged in mission work in the native 
city of Bombay. She was also one of our sur- 
gical patients. 

During the early spring of 1888, I was em- 
ployed as attending physician to the women of the 
Salvation Army, in their Bombay headquarters ; 
and all the ' ' Lassies ' ' of the Army, in Bombay, 
were under my professional care. On the 10th 
day of April, of that same year. Staff Captain 



264 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Blanche Cox, having been previously stricken 
with small-pox, was brought to my Hospital, 
and placed in the large upper, back ward of the 
wing, where she was isolated with her nurse, 
Mrs. Moses. Four days later Captain Minnie 
Johnson was placed in another bed in the same 
ward, on account of the same dire malady ; and, 
two days later. Miss Frida Lantz and Miss Annie 
Hindmarsh followed. The first two of these 
became serously, horribly, and dangerously ill; 
but all four ultimately made a perfect recovery, 
having no pock-marks or other signs of the fell 
disease to remind them and their friends of the 
terrible suffering and peril through which they 
had passed. 

Mrs. Moses, who had small-pox during her 
early infancy, remained with my small-pox 
patients for a period of several weeks, until all 
possible danger of contagion was past. Mght 
and day she nursed these four patients, never 
leaving the ward for any purpose. She received 
her food, and the food for her patients, through 
a trap door in the floor of the veranda, where it 
had been placed by a servant, leaving the trays 
and dishes in the same place again to be received 
through the same trap door later on, by a ser- 
vant who would come for them after she had 
returned to her ward. How accurate in follow- 
ing out all instructions, how vigilant, how atten- 
tive, how careful, and how tender she was, only 
those who were thus cared for can fully under- 
stand. The adjoining ward was empty and under- 




f^ o ^ 

^ "^ £ 5 
o 5 z ^ 

5^5 a 

=5 z Si o>^ 

a g -»! (E 









PATIENTS OF KHETWADI CASTLE HOSPITAL 267 

going constant fumigation. Every morning and 
evening, before visiting my small- pox patients, 
I changed my apparel, and passed through this 
room vp^hich was being fumigated; and, after 
finishing my visit, I returned the same way, 
bathing and changing my clothing before visit- 
ing any other patients in the Hospital or else- 
where. Thus we made sure that the disease 
should not be spread by us — nor was it. 

At this time, however, small- pox prevailed to 
an alarming extent in Bombay, and many cases 
were daily reported; besides these there was a 
still larger number of cases among the natives, 
in the native city, that were attended to secretly, 
and never came to the knowledge of the city 
authorities. Indeed, you were liable to meet a 
small-pox patient on the street at any time, or 
to sit beside one in the tram car. The natives 
take no sanitary precautions whatever; and 
when they are smitten with small-pox, cholera, 
leprosy, or any serious malady, they say, " Yih 
hamara kismat hai ; hamara munh men Ukhha 
hai.^^ (This is my fate, it is written in my 
face.) They consider that no one is at fault, and 
never blame themselves for any misfortune 
which may befall them. 

Miss Blanche Cox was born of wealthy, aris- 
tocratic parents in London, England, was con- 
verted in a Salvation Army meeting, united with 
the Army, and soon became private secretary to 
one of General Booth's daughters. 

Later on, she went to India; and, at the time 



268 KHETWADI CASTLE 

of which we are writing, she was a tall, slender 
maiden, scarcely out of her teens, with a face as 
fair, mien and manner as graceful, a smile as 
sweet, and a personality as fascinating as was 
her mind gifted, her heart pure and unsullied, 
her character beautiful and her nature simple, 
childlike, and affectionate. Altogether Miss Cox 
was, and is, a charming woman. How courage- 
ously she bore her terrible sufferings, never seem- 
ing to consider the danger of disfigurement to 
her beautiful face. 

During her long and tedious convalescence, for 
her health had been seriously impaired by previ- 
ous fastings and hardships in the Army, a friend- 
ship as warm, tender and close as mortal friend- 
ships can be, grew up between my dear patient 
and her doctor. Seven years afterward, to my 
surprise and delight, Miss Cox visited me in my 
home in Omaha, Nebraska; and I, in turn, 
visited her in her Salvation Army headquarters 
in Denver, Colorado. 

Frida Lantz came to India from Sweden, her 
native land. I know but little of her parent- 
age. She was left an orphan in early child- 
hood ; but she loved the land of her birth, and 
often sang to us sweet, sad melodies in her 
native tongue, afterward expressing her heart's 
deep longing for her native land. Fair of face, 
as the children of that northern clime are wont 
to be, delicate in form and constitution, she 
seemed as frail and lovely as a hly ; to know her 
was to protect her. Instinctively all felt hke 




To ->^^ Br - Rv\^w5/u -w/i^it SkUi h )avt tj^ «*^ 

STAFF CAPTAIX KLANCllI'; ]5. COX. IN INDLAX COSTUMK 



PATIENTS OF KHETWADI CASTLE HOSPITAL 2Y3 

shielding Frida from every sorrow, every hard- 
ship, every anxious thought. Dear, sweet, 
gentle child; we could not help feeling sorry 
that it had ever fallen to her lot to be sent to 
India as a Salvation Army officer. The work 
seemed too arduous, too difficult, and the re- 
sponsibilities far too heavy for her sympathetic, 
affectionate young heart. 

During convalescence Frida often entertained 
the patients in her ward, and her nurse and doc- 
tor also, by singing some of her sweet, native 
airs, Hindoostani bhajan, or Christian hymns in 
her pretty, broken English. Her voice was very 
tender and melodious, and her whole soul seemed 
to go out in the words of the hymn which she 
sang. A bird with joyous song, a drooping 
flower in the valley, a tender clinging vine in a 
native forest, a laughing child at play Frida 
seemed to be ; but never a strong, self-sufficient, 
competent mortal, able to battle through life's 
rough tide. She always seemed to be sighing 
for the presence of her beloved doctor, and when 
the latter could not, on account of many pressing 
duties, be with her, then Frida wrote tender 
love-lines, or painted pictures of blossoms to pre- 
sent to her when she should next visit the ward. 

' ' Hindmarsh ' ' was quite a different sort of a 
maiden ; and it never occurred to any of us to 
address her as "Captain", or, "Miss Hind- 
marsh ", or even, ' ' Annie ' ' ; just ' ' Hindmarsh ' ' 
seemed to be the only word that expressed the 
little woman who bore that name. She, some- 



274 KHETWADI CASTLE 

how, seemed made of a stronger, hardier kind of 
material; though, perhaps, not less charming 
than either of the two beautiful girls above de- 
scribed. She was not really pretty of face, nor 
delicate and graceful in form, but just a good- 
looking, attractive, winsome maiden — full of 
spirit, energy, and zeal in the Master's service — 
unselfish, kind-hearted, merry, generous, and, 
well, self-sufficient. It was not everybody who 
loved Hindmarsh; she would be liable to make 
enemies as well as friends, but we, at the Castle, 
loved her dearly. 

Miss Minnie Johnson was not with us so long 
as the other three Salvation Army officers. 
Though very ill in the beginning, she recovered 
more quickly, and left the hospital before any of 
the others were able to go. She was afterward 
married to a Salvation Army officer; but both 
she and her husband soon left the Army, uniting 
with one of the church missions, just where, or 
what particular mission they became members 
of, I do not know. 

There was another Salvation Army officer, 
whose name I have forgotten; but who, for a 
short time, was a patient in one of the wards of 
our Khetwadi Castle Hospital. She was a little 
native woman, and a convert from Hinduism. 
She had become a raving maniac, and no one 
about the place could manage her except Mrs. 
Moses, whose wonderful tact and skill did not 
fail her in this most difficult case. 

It was my custom to read the Scriptures, sing 




^ 


i 


J 


^*^ 


^ 


-^^^ 


1^ 


■• 


l^w^ 


I^B 




>' 




^ 


m 


\ ' 


^3 


\l 


^^ 


w 


V •: 


\ , 


W^ 


^jii|w^y^i 


■^m^gf 




\ 


/7 


rmfl^ A^^^ 


tmm(fJ^Bir 


1 f ^ 

Hi 




'1^ 


w 


K 



PATIENTS OF KHETWADI CASTLE HOSPITAL 277 

a Gospel hymn and offer a prayer in each of my 
hospital wards every Sunday evening. My Hin- 
du, Mohammedan and Parsee patients seemed to 
appreciate and enjoy these services quite as 
much as did the Christian patients. Indeed, our 
dear httle Zubedah Beebee was never willing to 
wait until Sunday ; but often, during the week, 
she would beg me to pray with her ; and when I 
did so, kneeling at her bedside, she nearly always 
wept, holding my hand tightly within her own 
two tiny palms, and seemed to make the prayer 
her own. Afterward she used to say, ' ' How 
beautiful it is to hear you pray, it does me 
good, it makes me better. ' ' 

During the two years, less fourteen days, from 
June 15, 1887, to June 1, 1889, while our Khet- 
wadi Castle Hospital was open, we treated a 
very large number of patients, and a great 
variety of diseases; indeed, nearly every disease 
to which mortals are heir, from the simplest 
form of malarial fever to the terrible cholera 
scourge, including smaU-pox, leprosy, insanity, 
maligant remittent fever, typhoid fever, guinea- 
worm, abscess of the liver, cancer, tuberculosis, 
and the even more horrible, and unnameable 
diseases. 

Within our Khetwadi Castle Hospital wards 
were, from time to time, patients of almost 
every nationality : — Hindu, Mohammedan, Eura- 
sian, Parsee, American, Enghsh, Irish, Scotch, 
German, French, Swede, Turk, and Jew — the 
rich, the poor, and the middle classes; represent- 



278 KHETWADI CASTLE 

ing every grade and caste of society from the 
poorest sweeper to the wealthy, high-caste Brah- 
man; missionaries also of almost every denomi- 
nation, from the simply appareled, plain-spoken 
Friend and the Salvation Army officer attired in 
the costume pecuhar to the native of India, to 
the Church of England zenana missionary and 
the wife of the Church of England clergyman — 
all were treated in the wards of our Khetwadi 
Castle Hospital. 



CHAPTER XXI 

TWO DEATH-BED SCENES 

It was a perfect night in February, 1888. The 
fuU moon, serene and fair, was at her zenith. 
The sky was clear as Bombay skies, during the 
cool season of the year, ever are. The stars 
seemed to vie with each other in brilliancy, and 
the verdant earth to rival the heavens in beauty. 
The tall palms, graceful custard apple, and lux- 
uriant mango trees cast their shadows upon the 
cool, fragrant ground, shrouding it in a mantle 
of lace; while the banana trees, forming the 
hedge, cast shadows upon the earth that seemed 
like grim and ghastly spectres of darkness. It 
was the midnight hour, and the great city of 
Bombay lay asleep. The streets were silent, 
save for an occasional thump of the watchman's 
cudgel upon the resounding sod, his weird hourly 
shriek, or the screech of a night owl, perched 
upon some neighboring tree. 

Within Khetwadi Castle all was silent as the 
tomb, save in one medical ward, where low- 
pitched voices might occasionally be heard; 
while softly clad, and silent-footed nurses moved 
noiselessly about through the dimly lighted halls, 
and into the chamber of death. 

Mrs. L — , a middle-aged Enghsh woman, one 
of the medical patients of our Khetwadi Castle 

(279) 



280 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Hospital, was about to pass into eternity. She 
had been with us only a few days, being most 
seriously and fatally ill when first admitted 
to the hospital. From the beginning, her suffer- 
ings were so great that, even had she wished to 
do so, it would have been well-nigh impossible 
for her to make any intelligent preparation for 
the great change that awaited her. Her hus- 
band stood at the foot of her bed, and her nurse, 
Mrs. Moses, waited near by, while I sat at my 
patient's side, holding her hand and counting 
the weak, fluttering pulse. 

Suddenly the dying woman turned to Mrs. 
Moses and said, ' ' Do you love Jesus Christ ? ' ' 
Mrs. Moses replied, ' ' Yes, Mrs. L — , I love Jesus 
Christ. ' ' Then to her husband she put the same 
question. When he assured her that he did love 
Jesus Christ, she turned to me; and, with the 
same eager, anxious expression upon her face, 
she said, ' ' Doctor, do you love Jesus Christ ? ' ' 
To which I replied, ' ' Yes, dear, I do love Jesus 
Christ. Do ^ott love Jesus Christ?" The face 
of the poor, dying creature now became livid; 
while an expression of mingled anger, hatred, 
remorse, despair and horror transfixed her coun- 
tenance ; as, staring downward into empty space, 
she hissed, ' ' No, I do not love Jesus Christ ! ' ' 
With these words upon her drawn, stricken 
lips, and her face expressing all the bitterness 
and hatred that can be depicted upon a human 
countenance, she turned her eyes upon her hus- 
band; while he, overwhelmed with grief and 



TWO DEATH-BED SCENES 281 

horror, crouched upon the floor, buried his face 
in his hands and cried aloud. 

The end, however, did not come until the eve- 
ning of the following day. In answer to an 
urgent professional call, I had gone to visit an 
out-patient, taking my interpreter, Mrs. Moses, 
with me. During my absence my sister re- 
mained in the ward with Mrs. L — , who still 
lingered on the border hne of eternity. She, my 
sister, having witnessed this last, dreadful strug- 
gle, describes it as follows : 

' ' I sat by Mrs. L — all the afternoon alone ; 
occasionally moistening her lips with orange 
juice which I prepared and strained in the room 
and kept ready. She seemed to have no pain, 
and lay much of the time in a sort of stupor. 
Her pulse was very weak, and her breathing so 
light that sometimes I had to watch closely to 
see it. Once she fixed her eyes earnestly on my 
face and I inquired of her, ' Do you want any- 
thing ? ' 

"'No.' 

" Are you comfortable ? 

"'Yes.' 

' ' Still she searched my face. 

' ' Would you hke to have me read a chapter 
to you? 

" ' No! ' she exclaimed very emphatically, ' I 
don't want any Bible ! ' and her brows knit and 
there was a look of intense dishke on her face. 
I put my hand on her forehead and smoothed 
her hair. The look wore away and presently 



282 KHETWADI CASTLE 

she lifted her eyes to mine again and said, ' I 
am going to die ? ' 

' ' Yes, very soon. 

"'I know it.' 

' ' Do you not wish for any prayer ? 

" ' No. I don't vv^ant any prayer. I used to 
pray and read the Bible, but that was a long 
while ago — a long while ago, when I was young 
— in Sunday school. I don't want any now ! ' 

' ' This was toward evening, and just when she 
closed her eyes her husband came. He had been 
working all day and watching with her all night 
till he was almost overcome with weariness and 
anxiety. He asked if he might lie on a couch, 
which was in the same room with her, and sleep ; 
and I answered him that I would waken him if 
any change came. In a few seconds he was in 
a deep sleep. 

"As I watched her face it seemed to me that I 
saw a subtle change passing over it. After 
about an hour she awakened and cried out to 
me, ' Oh, carry me ! ' 

' ' Dear Mrs. L — , I am not able to do that, but 
I will hft you a little, and we will see if that 
will not make you more comfortable. I hfted 
her shoulders and changed her pillows. 

" ' No, I want to be carried — I want you to 
hold me in your arms ! ' 

' ' But you are so heavy, dear ! Shall I call Mr. 
L — ? — he is right here. 

" ' No ! ' imperiously ' I want you to carry me ! ' 

' ' ' Miss Armstrong ! ' 



TWO DEATH-BED SCENES 283 

"Yes, dear. 

" ' I want you to carry me ! ' 

' ' But I am so little, and you are so big ! 

"In an instant she seemed to forget aU about 
it and was unconscious again. 

' ' I had used up all my oranges and had sent for 
more. When the httle black Ayah brought them, 
I began to make one ready. 

' ' ' Oh, carry me ! Oh, I want orange, orange, 
orange, I want orange ! ' 

" I glanced at her face while I hurried the prep- 
aration of the orange. It had changed markedly, 
and even as I went toward her with the juice 
she became unconscious again. After making 
sure of this, I went to rouse Mr. L — . He slept 
profoundly, but I shook him till he appeared to 
be awake. Then the bed began to shake and I 
beckoned Miss R — , who was just then passing 
the door, to come in. She came at once but was 
so terrified that she could not help me, and I 
asked her to send the black Ayah instead. Be- 
fore the httle black Ayah reached me, the patient 
was in struggles the most violent I had ever 
seen. It was all I could do to keep her on the 
bed. As soon as the Ayah came I aroused Mr. 
L — again, bidding him come quickly if he 
wished to see the end, 

' ' Mrs. L — had no apparent consciousness dur- 
ing the physical struggles of her death ; but the 
contortions were so violent that it seemed we were 
seeing the soul hterally wrenched from the body 
by some invisible force. 



284 KHETWADI CASTLE 

' ' After awhile the resistance of the body grew 
weaker and weaker and finally ceased. The 
pulse had become irregular as well as weak, and 
the respirations were far apart. A third time I 
stepped to Mr. L — , shook him desperately and 
said in his ear. Come, she is dying! In a 
dazed way, with the help of my hand, he rose 
up, came with me and stood near her head. 
I said to him. Look to her eyes for recognition 
— if she is conscious it will be for a moment 
only. 

' ' We waited a few seconds when, suddenly, her 
eyelids flew open, and her eyes fixed a strange 
look upon a point which seemed to be ten or fif- 
teen feet distant, half way upward and to her 
right. The expression was a concentration of 
unutterable horror. I saw a look of anger sweep 
her face, chased by a look of terror beyond de- 
scription. Beneath it her whole face changed, 
and she pressed her head backward into the pil- 
low and all her body united in the same impulse, 
even to her hands and her feet, and she became 
locked in that attitude; then the look in her 
eyes began to deepen till it seemed that we saw 
into the secret depth of her soul. All that I 
have ever conceived of rage and fear in posses- 
sion of a human consciousness could not, of it- 
self, produce in a face an expression equal to 
what we saw in hers. 

' ' Her eyes seemed to widen more and more, and 
to grow more transparent, and to reveal more 
and more of the awfulness and utterness of the 



TWO DEATH BE>D SCENES 285 

anger and terror in her. Her husband cried out 
her name again and again and then — ' Oh, nay- 
God ! My God ! It cannot be ! It cannot be ! ' 

' ' I was fixed to the spot and dumb — thinking 
Oh, why did I call him! Why might I not 
have known ! 

' ' While we watched her, suddenly, the light of 
life went out, and left that awful look frozen on 
her pitiful face. We led him out of the room. 
He was stupefied. The face never regained its 
old look — never grew quiet and peaceful and 
sweet as the faces of most dead do. It had to 
be covered away from the sight of the living at 
last, still frozen in that aivful look. ' ' 

That night, when I returned home from my 
out-visit, my sister related to me the above- 
described, painful experience ; and my own heart 
was filled with horror, when I beheld the look of 
anguish on the face of the corpse. Yes, even 
when shrouded for burial, and lying in her coffin, 
the dead face stiU bore that expression, horrible 
to see; and friends, gathering for the funeral 
service, begged that the coffin lid be screwed 
down, and regretted having looked upon the face 
of the departed even for one brief moment. 
Strangers, friends and kindred ahke, shuddered 
with horror when they beheld the almost fiendish 
expression graven upon the countenance of that 
dead woman. 



During the month of July, 1888, one of the 
leading missionaries of the Church of England, 



286 KHETWADI CASTLE 

of Bombay, came to see me in regard to one, 
Shewanthibai, a little Hindu girl about fourteen 
or fifteen years of age, who had been a pupil in 
one of the Church of England girls' mission 
schools of Bombay; but who was now ill with 
cosumption, and was not expected to live until 
the morning. 

He said he felt it to be only right and fair that 
I should know in advance the facts concerning 
Shewanthibai, and that she was considered to be 
a very troublesome patient. She had, within 
the last year, been admitted to nearly every hos- 
pital in Bombay, except my own, and had been 
successively dismissed from each, on account of 
her ill-temper, dissatisfaction with the care she 
received, and general bad conduct. Only a few 
hours before his call at my office she had been 
sent home to their mission, from one of these 
city hospitals. At the mission there was no 
suitable place for her, and no one who could 
properly be expected to give her the care she so 
much needed. She might die at any moment; 
indeed, it seemed unlikely that she could live un- 
til the following day. Would I admit her to my 
hospital, and allow her to die there ? And could 
she come at once —to-night ? It was already 11 
o'clock at night; but I agreed to admit the poor 
httle Hindu girl to one of my medical wards, 
and undertook to care for her as long as she Uved. 

Accordingly, Shewanthibai was, presently, 
brought in a carriage to Khetwadi Castle, and 
carried in the arms of Bhanna (being a low-caste 



TWO DEATH-BED SCENES 28T 

Hindu, she was not kept in seclusion) to one of 
our beautiful, large, upper medical wards; and 
put in charge of the night-nurse. I immediately 
examined her, and found her emaciated to a 
skeleton ; and very feeble indeed, but not actually 
dying, as I had expected her to be. I ordered 
warm baths, oil baths, and alcohol baths, to be 
given alternately, at suitable intervals; also, 
small quantities of nourishing food every hour, 
in addition to the needed medicinal treatment. 
On the following morning, instead of dying, 
our little patient declared herself to be very 
much better ; and thus, hour by hour and day 
by day, she continued to improve, increasing in 
flesh and strength, until she and her friends be- 
lieved her to be making a perfect recovery, and 
scarcely credited my words when I assured them 
that her disease was incurable and that, though 
now she seemed better, yet her condition was 
such as to render it impossible for her to make 
any permanent recovery. Not only did our httle 
patient improve in her general health and 
strength, but she very soon gave her heart to 
God and became an earnest, devout Christian. 
It seemed to us incredible that she could ever 
have been peevish, or in any wise ill-tempered. 
She became the very soul of cheerfulness, and 
was hke a ray of sunshine in her ward — dearly 
loved by patients, nurses, servants and all. How- 
ever ill she might be, however great her suffer- 
ings were, to my inquiry she would always 
answer, " I am better, so much better, Dr. 



288 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Sahib." Always, always better, according to 
her own report ; she was happy, cheerful, unsel- 
fish, and deeply grateful for every service ren- 
dered. I had, of course, given her a good place 
in the hospital. Indeed, all patients who were 
admitted to Khetwadi Castle Hospital were 
treated alike, and were given all needed care and 
every possible attention. No trouble, no labor, 
no expense was spared in the care of our sick. 

At the expiration of one month, as Shewanthi- 
bai continued to improve in health, strength, and 
in every way, her friends being persuaded that 
she would ultimately recover, the Church of 
England missionary sent a messenger with a 
carriage to convey her home to the mission. I 
happened to be out at the time ; and, when the 
news was conveyed to my little patient, she be- 
came dangerously excited, wept bitterly, and 
begged the messenger to wait until the return 
of her doctor. When, finally, I did return, I 
vi^as immediately summoned to her ward, and 
Shewanthibai, caUing me to her side, threw her 
arms about my neck and, weeping, begged me 
not to send her away, not to allow them to take 
her from my hospital ; saying, ' ' Oh, Dr. Sahib, 
don't let them take me! Don't send me away! 
I just want to die here. It won't be long. 
Won't you let me die here ? I have been so 
happy here! You say I must surely die. I 
want to die, I don't want to live; but, Oh, let me 
die here ! ' ' 

I could not resist her pathetic pleading, and, of 



TWO DEATH-BED SCENES 289 

course, I assured her that she should remain, that 
nobody should be allowed to take her from us. 
Then she fell back, trembling and exhausted from 
this undue excitement and much weeping, but 
happy in the assurance that she would be allowed 
to die in her own pleasant ward, and among the 
friends whom she had learned to love so dearly. 
Then I went to my office and wrote a note to the 
Church of England missionary, telling him that 
I would make no further charge for Shewanthi- 
bai's board and treatment in the hospital; but 
that we could not turn her away, nor suffer her 
to be taken away, as she had begged so hard to 
remain, that I had promised to keep her. 

For several weeks after this our little She wan - 
thibai lived on, the very light and joy of all 
about her, happy, contented, cheerful, ' ' better ' ' 
— the very soul of gratitude and affection. But 
the day of her departure finally came, when she 
must leave her dear hospital ward, and beloved 
hospital friends, not to return to any earthly 
home, but to take her joyous flight to the place 
prepared for her in her Father's house, among 
the many mansions. 

She recognized the approach of the death 
angel, but felt no fear. All day, aU night, we 
labored over her — for two days and two nights 
we looked for her death every hour. Dur- 
ing the whole of that time, though necessarily 
very weak, her sufferings were not great; and 
she seemed in a transport of joy and dehght. 
She wished us to be singing, or praying, or read- 



290 KHETWADI CASTLE 

ing passages from the Bible almost continuously. 
She would say to my sister, or to one of the 
Christian nurses, " Won't you sing to me ? 
Sing something that has glad in it." 

At the conclusion of the hymn she would say, 
' ' Bead to me, ' ' always meaning Bible reading. 
Often she would ask me to pray ; and so one or 
another of us was singing, reading the Bible, or 
praying with her almost continually night and 
day, during the last forty-eight hours of her life. 

All through the last night I sat by her side and 
held her hand, or allowed her to hold mine ; and, 
occasionally, I would say to her, " How is it 
with you now, Shewanthibai ? ' ' And she would 
answer, " Oh, I am happy, so happy." Then 
again, later on, I would say, " Are you stiU 
happy, Shewantibai ? " To which she would 
answer, ' ' Very, very happy. ' ' And thus it was 
throughout the whole night. 

Finally, when she could speak only one word 
at a time, and that with difficulty, just before 
her spirit took its everlasting flight, I said to her, 
' ' Shewanthibai, are you still happy, are you still 
trusting in the Lord Jesus, do you feel his pres- 
ence with you now ? " To which she replied, 
looking upward, her face radiant with a holy 
hght, ' ' Yes, Dr. Sahib, I am happy, so happy ! ' ' 
With these words upon her lips she passed away; 
but the poor, wan, emanciated face did not seem 
like the face of a corpse; it was still radiant 
with the hght of her "■ glad^\ departing soul. 
Every line in that tiny, dark, dead face was a 



TWO DEATH-BED SCENES 291 

line of beauty ; and we all gathered around and 
gazed upon it, and seemed spell-bound, and un- 
able to tear ourselves away. 

On the day of burial that wonderful expression 
of rapture still suffused her "glad", joyous 
countenance, having become a settled expression 
of unutterable joy and repose, making her seem 
like a sleeping child in a happy dream. Strang- 
ers, who never knew Shewanthibai in life, begged 
for another, and another look upon the face of 
the corpse. Friends who knew her before her 
conversion wondered, and were unable to explain 
the strange change in the expression of her face, 
and that look of joy which they had never seen 
there in life. Those of us who had witnessed 
the new birth, and who had known the beauti- 
ful Christian life that had sprung up and blos- 
somed in our midst within the few short preced- 
ing weeks, understood it all, and felt that we had 
seen, as far as mortal eye can see an immortal 
soul, her spirit take its flight to realms of end- 
less bHss. 

At last we reluctantly suffered the cruel lid to 
be fastened down upon its rude, pine coffin, hid- 
ing from our gaze the sweet, young face, which 
was more beautiful in death than it had ever 
been in life — which, though bronze in color, ir- 
regular in feature, and emaciated to a skeleton- 
face, yet had been rendered most exquisitely 
lovely by the imprint of its beautiful, departing 
spirit, in its transport of delight at being called 
home. 



CHAPTER XXII 

OUR GUESTS 

While residing in Khetwadi Castle, my sister 
and I enjoyed the privilege of entertaining a 
very large number of missionary guests. 

In the great, European, metropolitan city of 
Bombay there are several fine, Enghsh hotels; 
but the rates charged for entertainment greatly 
exceed the limits of any ordinary missionary's 
slender means; and, at that time, there really 
was no place where missionaries could be com- 
fortably entertained without having to pay an 
exorbitant charge. The private homes of the 
resident missionaries of Bombay were usually 
sufficiently large to accommodate their own 
famihes, and necessary missionary assistants; 
but not large enough to enable them to entertain 
several missionary guests, at any one time. 

When missionaries are about to return to 
America on sick leave, or on any other account, 
it is usually necessary for them to spend a few 
days, or, perhaps, even a week or more, in Bom- 
bay before saihng, in order to make necessary 
preparations for the long, homeward journey. 

When missionaries first arrive in India, and 
before proceeding to their several respective ap- 
pointments, it is often necessary for them to re- 
main in Bombay for a few days, or even a week 

(292) 



OUR GUESTS 293 

or more, in order to get news as to their exact 
local appointments ; or, to prepare for a long resi- 
dence in some inland town where clothing, suit- 
able for such a chmate, cannot be easily obtained. 

Khetwadi Castle was so commodious a build- 
ing that, while our regular, ordinary family, in- 
cluding student nurses, adopted children, patients 
and servants, was always very large, yet it sel- 
dom happened that the Castle was so full that 
we could not accommodate several guests in 
addition. 

Thus it happened that I frequently received a 
hasty note from the leading missionary of some 
established mission in Bombay — Methodist Epis- 
copal, Wesleyan Methodist, Presbyterian, Con- 
gregational, Baptist, Quaker, Christian, or 
Church of England — stating that there were 
several of their missionaries who wished to re- 
main in Bombay for a few days, but whom they 
were unable to entertain on account of the crowd- 
ed condition of their missionary bungalow ; and 
asking if I would kindly receive and entertian 
these friends until they were ready to take ship 
for America, or to start for their inland appoint- 
ment, or appointments. Never did I refuse such 
a request. First, because I could conveniently 
and easily entertain them all in my large house. 
Secondly, because my heart bade me do so, and 
I felt it a privilege and a pleasure to receive such 
guests at any and all times, and to give them 
the freedom of my home. And, lastly, because 
I knew the need, and sympathized deeply with 



294 KHETWADI CASTLE 

each particular missionary in this pecuUar situa- 
tion ; and I felt a real pleasure in affording them 
the little help which they so sorely required at 
the time. 

Thus our Khetwadi Castle was scarcely ever 
without a guest ; and sometimes we had a large 
number of missionary friends with us for a con- 
siderable period of time. 

During January, 1889, while the South India 
Conference was in session in Bombay, I enter- 
tained fifteen American missionaries of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in my own home, 
for a period varying from ten to thirty-one days 
— several of the missionaries leaving before the 
others were ready to go. 

Six of these missionaries, however, namely. 
Doctors Sheldon and Ernsburger, the Misses 
Blair and Black, and Eev. Mr. and Mrs. Sim- 
mons, insisted upon reimbursing me in full for 
their board during the entire period of their stay 
in Khetwadi Castle. This I, at first, refused to 
accept ; but, when they told me that Bishop Tho- 
burn had especially requested that they pay me 
a reasonable sum for their board, I accepted the 
money. Of course I did not keep a boarding 
house, and never received any money for the 
entertainment of any missionary except in this 
one instance, nor did I take these six mission- 
aries with any such intention, or expectation. 

I wish also to state, in this connection, that 
each of the above-named six missionaries con- 
tributed something, a trifle, toward the main- 



OUR GUESTS 295 

tainance of my free dispensary for sweepers; 
which was the only amount of money ever 
received by me from any source, for this or any 
other missionary enterprise, or charity, which 
I carried on during my six and a half years 
missionary labors in India. 

Among the many loved and honored mission- 
ary guests whom it was our privilege to enter- 
tain in our Khetwadi Castle, I am tempted to 
mention a few. 

Two American missionaries en route from New 
York to the inland China mission, after a fur- 
lough in the home land, were with us for a period 
of two weeks. 

Two stately and beautiful Quaker ladies, in 
their plain habit, stopped with us en route to 
their inland mission field. 

Miss Robinson, an American missionary of the 
Christian Church, was with us for an extended 
period of several weeks, and won the love and 
admiration of aU. 

Rev. George F. and Mrs. Kate D. Hopkins 
spent three days with us in Khetwadi Castle, 
en route to his appointment as pastor of the 
Cawnpore English-speaking Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Rev. Mr. HoUister was with us during an 
annual session of the South India Conference, in 
Bombay. 

Dr. Wycoff, a medical missionary of the Bos- 
ton Faith Mission, came to us as a patient, and 
afterward became a guest. 



296 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Rev. and Mrs, Winters were both patients and 
guests within the Castle. 

Eev. and Mrs. G. I. Stone were also, on several 
occasions, patients within the wards of our 
Khetwadi Castle Hospital, and beloved guests in 
our home. 

Rev. WiUiam W. and Mrs. Carrie Bruere were 
likewise, at various times, patients and guests ; 
as were Rev. B. and Mrs. Laura Mitchell, Rev. 
and Mrs. S. P. Jacobs, Rev. D. 0. and Mrs. D. 
Stone Ernsburger, Miss Rumsay, of the Church 
of England, Miss Ellen Hall and Miss Louise 
Evans, Friends, and many others. 

Bishop and Mrs. Fowler, and their son, Carl, 
were also our guests in Khetwadi Castle, in the 
latter part of January and until February 9, 
1889, during his Episcopal visit to missionary 
conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Besides our many missionary guests of various 
nationalities, coming from all parts of India and 
from many a foreign shore, and representing 
nearly every Christian denomination, we had a 
large number of transient visitors. Several noble, 
self-sacrificing laborers in Bombay missions, who 
received small, insufficient salaries, and who 
were sacrificing their all in the service of our 
blessed Lord, were frequent guests at the Castle ; 
and our servants had standing orders to prepare 
a comfortable meal and serve it at once, when- 
ever any one of these missionaries called — no 
matter at what hour they might come, day or 
night. 




IJISIIOI- C. II, I'OWLKK. D.I).. LL.D. 



our guests 299 

[mrs. moses writes to father] 

Khetwadi Castle, 
Khetwadi Back Road, Bombay, 

February 22, 1889. 
Dr. W. L. Armstrong, 

Dear Sir : Doctor is sorry not to have written 
to you for so long a time, but she has been very 
busy lately. Bishop Fowler, his wife and son 
have been staying here during Conference; as 
have, also, four lady Doctors, and several other 
missionaries. Three of the Doctors were Homeo- 
pathists: Doctors Sheldon, Merrill and Bald- 
win. 

Miss Armstrong is quite well, and is visiting 
the chawls, gathering the children for Sunday 
school, and inviting others to the church ; so she 
is doing grand missionary work for the Master. 

Doctor is well, and so are all the children. The 
children were baptized by Bishop Fowler on 
Thursday evening, the seventh day of February. 

The coachman was converted a few weeks ago, 
and he was also baptized by the Bishop, on the 
Sunday before the children were baptized; so 
that we have had a good time lately. 

Doctor was very pleased when the coachman 
gave his heart to God, and publicly confessed 
Him by being baptized. 

The house has been whitewashed and done up ; 
but, instead of looking better, I think it is worse. 
Some of the rooms were done over three or four 
times, and now the dining-room, private room 
and veranda walls are falling off, leaving great. 



300 KHETWADI CASTLE 

bare patches. The natives are so long at any- 
thing ; then, when it is done, it very seldom pays 
for doing; but it is one way of teaching us 
patience. It is rather trying for Doctor, as she 
likes things to look well when they are done. 
Doctor will be able to write to you soon, as the 
company is all gone now; but it was almost 
impossible while she was so busy. 

The butler was taken ill last week; and we 
are all very sorry. He does his work so well, 
and cannot be spared ; but the Hamal tries to do 
his best while the butler is ill. When the Hamal 
came here he was very dull and stupid, but he 
has improved so much, that no one would think 
him the same person ; and he is so obliging. 

Mrs. Smith came here on the fourteenth of 
this month, to be trained as a nurse. She seems 
a very nice person, and willing to learn. Doctor 
also expects several other new students soon. 

With tenderest love from Dr. and Miss Arm- 
strong, 

M.'E. Moses. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

A FREE DISPENSARY ON WHEELS 

Down through the lowest slums of Bombay 
native city, where the streets, reeking with filth, 
are so narrow as to be scarcely more than lanes, 
where the gutters are most shallow, stagnant 
and foul, where the sun never shines except 
with a deadly ray at the noon hour, where the heat 
is well-nigh unbearable, the stench sickening, and 
where the awful, squalid poverty of the people 
is so appalling as to beggar description ; there it 
was my custom, during my early life in Khet- 
wadi Castle, before other pressing duties rendered 
such work impossible, to pay daily visits ; and to 
drive up and down in my carriage through these 
narrow slum streets, examining patients at the 
door of my carriage, or on their own wretched 
doorsteps, and dispensing medicine along the way. 

The people were too poor to pay even the 
smallest trifle for medical advise, examination, 
treatment or drugs ; but their need was so press- 
ing that it was a real dehght to me to be able to 
supply, even in smaU measure, the terrible want. 

The guinea- worm is one of the commonest 
ailments from which these poor people suffer; 
and, during my visits to these wretched slums, I 
was called upon to remove a large number of 
them every day. 

(301) 



302 KHETWADI CASTLE 

The worm is found deeply imbedded in the 
flesh — usually in the muscles of the leg, or thigh, 
where it has grown from a germ. It is white 
and flat like a tape- worm ; and, like a tape-worm, 
long and thin, being about as large in circumfer- 
ence as a knitting needle, only flat, and much 
longer. Indeed, it may be several feet in length. 
After having thus developed within the muscle, 
it finally makes its way to the surface ; and ap- 
pears on the foot, ankle, leg, or thigh, looking 
and feeling much like a boil. This must be 
poulticed, being very painful, hot, and inflamed. 
After the poultice has been applied for some days, 
the centre or head of the boil (which is really 
not a boil at all) may be pricked, and the head 
of the worm will then appear. This head must 
be grasped with a pair of dressing forceps, or 
tweezers of some sort, and gently drawn out. 

This little operation requires exquisite care, as 
the worm is apt to pull itself away, drawing back 
from the forceps ; and, if forcibly drawn upon, 
the worm is liable to break off at or above its neck. 
In this case the body wiU shrink back into the 
patient's muscle, where it will decompose, and 
thus give rise to serious trouble, as it cannot 
again be found without great difficulty, requiring 
to be cut down upon through the muscle to its 
deep-seated bed. With care, however, the worm 
may be gently drawn out. This is done by 
wrapping the head about a match, pencil, or 
something of the kind, and gently turning the 
piece of wood around and around until the worm 



A FEEE DISPENSARY ON WHEELS 303 

can be drawn no further without considerable 
force. 

When this happens the stick, or pencil, must 
be tied fast in position until some hours later, 
or perhaps until the following day, when the 
match can again be rolled around and around, 
drawing the worm out a foot, two feet, more or 
less, until it becomes firm again. Sometimes 
this operation of removing the guinea- worm 
requires several days before the whole worm can 
be extracted. Sometimes it happens that several 
members of the same family are thus afflicted, 
or one person may have several guinea- worms 
at one time. 

The disease is so common in Bombay native 
city that, during this street dispensary work, I 
was usually called upon to remove a worm at 
every second or third door on each side of the 
street. Besides the guinea-worm, there were 
many horrible cases of leprosy; and the poor, 
unhappy victims did not hesitate to implore tem- 
porary relief from their loathsome sufferings. 

My first visits to this part of Bombay native 
city were paid in company with Rev, A. W. 
Prautch, a missionary of the Parent Board of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church ; but, later on, I 
went alone, accompanied only by my interpreter 
or a nurse. 

During this medical work in the slums, I 
never did any regular street preaching; but, 
now and again, wherever opportunity afforded, I 
pointed individual patients to " The Lamb of 
God, which taketh away the gin of the world. ' ' 



CHAPTEE XXIV 

A SWEEPER DISTRICT 

As Her Majesty, the gracious Empress of In- 
dia, has provided asylums for the insane, hos- 
pitals for the diseased, places of refuge and 
restraint for the rabid ; and quarantine hospitals 
for poor mortals who are stricken with leprosy, 
cholera, smaU-pox, and other fatal and contagious 
maladies, in order that their neighbors and 
friends may escape infection ; so has she provided 
' ' Districts ' ' for her sweeper population, in order 
that the higher caste community may escape the 
contamination of their touch. 

During the early spring of 1888 my friend, a 
Methodist Episcopal missionary of the Parent 
Board, Rev. A. W. Prautch, during one of his 
frequent calls at the Castle, informed me that 
the poor sweepers, in each of their several dis- 
tricts, were dying at the rate of from eight to 
twelve per day, from a very malignant form of 
remittent malarial fever, brought on by the 
crowded condition of their districts, insufficient 
food, and from many other unwholesome and 
baneful conditions peculiar to their surroundings 
and manner of life. He begged me to visit one 
of the districts with him, assuring me that 
nothing was being done for their relief ; and that 
there was no source from which they could re- 

(304) 




ENTRANCE TO ONIO OB' Till': ISOMHAY S\V ICKl'lCR DISTRICTS 



A SWEEPER DISTRICT 307 

ceive medical aid. I promised to take him in 
my carriage to one of the sweeper districts on 
the following morning at six o'clock. Upon 
this visit I wish to invite you, dear reader, to 
accompany us. 

Promptly at five o'clock, as usual, my good 
butler brings the chhota haziri, consisting of a 
cup of hot tea and two thin slices of dry toast 
stingily spread with buffalo butter. Half an 
hour later Mr. Prautch arrives, and finds me 
ready and waiting. Tom, my horse, harnessed 
to the brougham, stands at the front hall door ; 
while Bhanna, tall, lank and wiry ; but quick and 
supple as a wild panther, and able to see more 
with his one eye than most men can see with 
two, waits with his hand upon the carriage door. 

A short drive through Khetwadi Back Road 
brings us to Grant Road ; and we drive along at 
the left of the tramway ; for in India one always 
keeps to the left, not to the right side of the 
road, in riding, driving or walking. Soon we 
reach the market, and thence pass through the 
bazaar into the native city. 

On through the narrow, crowded, filthy streets 
of the native city, and down to the lowest slums 
we go. At length Bhanna brings his carriage to 
a halt, and informs us that he can proceed no 
further, as the streets have become so narrow 
that they will no longer admit the passage of 
our carriage. We now alight and pick our way 
through the narrow, filthy alleys; so narrow, 
indeed, that we are obliged to, walk single file. 



308 KHETWADI CASTLE 

At length we come to a rather low, crumbling 
wall. We pass around this wall until we find a 
small gate-way. This small opening in the wall 
admits us to the interior of the sweeper district ; 
and when you have inspected this one, you 
know what every other sweeper district in Bom- 
bay is like, as they are all built upon the same 
plan. 

Having passed through the little gate, we now 
stand in the open court. Above our heads is the 
smokey, gray-blue sky; and this is the only 
clean spot to be seen. Beneath our feet is the 
ground floor of the enclosure ; very much littered 
and reeking with filth. Opening into the wall 
from this court-yard, at the right of us, at the 
left of us, and in front, at an interval of from 
eight to ten feet, are doors. These are hke old- 
fashioned, double barn-doors, which close in the 
centre ; and may be f ast'ened at the top by means 
of a padlock. Passing through one of these 
doors, we enter a tiny room from eight to ten 
feet square, and with ceiling so low that your 
hand can easily reach it. Its floor is on a level 
with the court-yard, a ground floor, without 
cement, carpet, matting, or any intervening 
substance to protect our feet from the unwhole- 
some, filthy soil. There is no door except the 
one through which we have entered, leading into 
the court-yard; no window, no hole through 
which God's sunlight and fresh air may enter. 
The walls are built of brick, and plastered over 
with mud; the ceiling also is plastered with 




A MUU COOK STOVE 



A SWEEPER DISTRICT 311 

niud. There are no pictures upon the walls, no 
articles of furniture in the room, no comforts or 
conveniences of any sort. There is no bed, 
chair, stool, table or crockery. Behind the door, 
in the corner on the floor, you will observe the 
cook stove; but you wiU not recognize it as a 
stove of any sort. It is one foot or less across 
the top, and stands six inches high from the 
ground. It is moulded from common soil, and 
dried in the sun; and, as often as it crumbles 
down, another is made by one of the little 
daughters-in-law of that home. Its shape is 
that of a horse-shoe, being hollow in the centre, 
open at the top and bottom, and having a small 
opening at one side. A little fire is kindled in 
the centre, and the degcha, a copper cooking 
utensil varying in size and shape, is placed upon 
the top, and thus the rice for the family meal is 
cooked. The fuel used for this purpose is cow- 
dung. This is gathered from the streets, moulded 
by hand into cakes, and dried in the sun. This 
is the only fuel that these poor people can afford. 
Near this home-made, hand-made stove, may 
be seen one large flat stone, and upon it another 
round, or oblong, stone, something like a wooden 
rolling-pin, only shorter. These two articles 
constitute what is called the '" curry stone ", used 
for grinding the curry stuff, which consists prin- 
cipally of peppers, green and ripe. Of course the 
wealthier natives purchase all manner of species 
for their curry stuff ; cloves, cardamom, aUspice, 
cocoanut, etc. The poor sweepers, however, are 



312 KHETWADI CASTLE 

not able to afford these luxuries, and their curry- 
stuff contains Httle that is palatable ; but has the 
pepper which renders it hot, and enables them 
to eat the rice with relish. If they are able to 
purchase some cheap fish, or vegetables, this is 
a great addition, and luxury ; but often the most 
they are able to afford is some green leaves or 
weeds, gathered from the road-side on the out- 
skirts of the city. The peppers thus ground, and 
the fish or vegetables, are then cooked with a 
little ghee — rancid butter which has been melted. 
This is eaten with the boiled rice, and constitutes 
the one scant meal per day which these people 
allow themselves, and which is the same every 
day throughout the year. 

In this blessed land of America we often hear 
people speak of the difficulty of obtaining a 
variety in diet ; and there are seasons in the year 
when our thrifty housewives complain of the 
difficulty they find in providing appetizing and 
tempting dishes from the market supplies. We 
would think it hard indeed if we were obliged 
to subsist upon one meal a day, and if that one 
meal must consist of the same two articles the 
year around. 

The httle mud stove in the corner has no chim- 
ney, no stove pipe hole and no means of escape 
for the smoke; which must, therefore, come 
straight into the face of the cook and fill the 
room. In addition to this little stove, the curry 
stone near by, and a copper degcha or two, there 
may possibly be seen a long wooden spoon, 



A SWEEPER DISTRICT 313 

which serves to stir the cooking rice. With the 
exception of these three or four articles, there is 
absolutely no furniture in this httle place ; which 
must serve as the home of a large family of 
sweepers. 

There can scarcely be a small family among 
the natives of India; as you will readily see 
when you remember that a son never builds a 
new home for himself and his young bride, but 
brings her home to his father's house. If there 
be a dozen sons they all do the same ; and they 
all remain at home as long as their father Uves, 
and even afterward; for, in case of the father's 
death, the eldest son takes his place ; and aU the 
younger brothers pay over their earnings into 
the hand of this elder brother, as they did be- 
fore into the hand of their father. The father 
is master of the house as long as he lives ; his 
chief, or favorite wife, is the mistress of that 
home as long as she lives. Her daughters-in-law 
are her servants, her slaves. 

In these sweeper districts only one tiny room is 
allowed for one family. You wiU wonder how 
so many persons can possibly hve in a room of 
such small dimensions. They cannot, of course ; 
it would be impossible for them aU to he down 
upon the floor to rest at night in such a small 
place; they must, therefore, of necessity sleep 
in the open court. To describe one home is to 
describe them all, for each one is exactly like 
every other. 

The court -yard is perhaps fifty by seventy feet 



314 KHETWADI CASTLE 

in size ; and each sweeper district is supposed to 
accommodate about two hundred persons. On 
the occasion of this, my first visit, I found the 
court-yard very much crowded, although it was 
the morning hour, when all who had employment 
were away from home, engaged in their regular 
and only occupation of sweeping, and carrying 
away the filth of the city. Of those who re- 
mained behind a large number were ill, and lying 
flat upon the ground; the men enveloped in 
their one scant garment, or dhoti, the women in 
their sarees. A few, however, of these ill folk, 
enjoyed the luxury of a cot. Four vv^ooden legs 
with four poles extending between ; and a coarse, 
coir rope interwoven across the top — this consti- 
tutes the cot. A few of these cots w^ere covered 
with small pieces of old, worn out, floor matting, 
which had been picked up from the litter of some 
European back yard, and which now served to 
protect the emaciated forms of the invalids from 
the rough cords of rope. No mattress, no straw 
or hay tick, no quilt, no blanket, no rug of any 
kind, no sheet did I ever see on a cot in any 
sweeper district. Indeed there were very few 
cots, the majority of the sick folk being obliged 
to lie upon the filthy ground. 

Mr. Prautch soon established himself in one 
corner of the court-yard, and began to preach to 
the people in their native language; while my 
interpreter and I went about, in and out, among 
the patients; I examining them, and prescrib- 
ing; she administering the remedies, and inter- 



A SWEEPER DISTRICT 315 

preting my questions and their answers. Some 
of them had glazed eyes, several were actually 
dying ; many were so ill that they never knew a 
stranger bended above them, and were unable to 
swallow even a drop of liquid medicine. 

At ten o'clock we made our way out through 
the nttle gate into the open space just beyond 
the sweeper district. Here the poor sweepers 
fairly besieged us, prostrating their bodies in the 
dust at our feet and imploring me to remain a 
little longer; to see another, and another, and 
another suffering one. One poor woman came 
entreating me just to step into an alley and see 
her mother, who was dying, but who would, she 
said, be saved by my English medicine. An- 
other brought her babe, weeping and praying 
that I would examine it and prescribe. Yet an- 
other had a son who could not walk to me, but 
whom she was sure I could rescue from the grave 
if I would only stop a moment to see him. 
These calls, though urgent and pitiful, were so 
numerous that I knew the whole day would not 
enable me to see all of the many sick people who 
needed attention. I promised to return at six 
o'clock on the following morning, and asked 
them to have aU the patients collected inside 
of the court-yard; so that I could see them all 
without having to go about from place to place, 
and thus save time. Then the poor sweepers 
moved aside and allowed me to pass on home- 
ward. 

The following morning found me in this 



316 KHETWADI CASTLE 

sweeper district at the appointed hour; and I 
promised to come every morning at six, and to 
remain until ten o'clock, and so I did. I did not 
go to the same district every day; but to one 
district one morning, to another the next, and so 
on, until I had made the rounds of all the sweeper 
districts in the city ; and then began again at the 
one first visited. 

Each morning, at the close of my medical 
rounds, it was my habit to stop in the shade of 
a great tree just outside of the sweeper district ; 
or, where there was no tree, in the little open 
space which is nearly always found at that point ; 
and very soon a crowd of men, women and chil- 
dren, of the sweeper caste, would gather about 
me. Mrs. Moses would then read a passage of 
scripture in the Gruzratti language, and sing a 
hymn. After this we would all kneel upon the 
ground, and I would offer prayer, Mrs. Moses 
interpreting what I said, word by word ; so that 
the poor people might know what I was taking 
to the Lord about. After prayer I would select 
some one of the many beautiful passages from 
the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, and suggest to 
Mrs. Moses just a few leading thoughts, such as 
seemed to be the natural outgrowth of the text ; 
and with these suggestions she would preach to 
them in the Guzratti language. 

Of course I could not understand a word of 
that native tongue ; but I have been assured by 
missionaries, who occasionally accompanied me 
on such occasions and who understood the Ian- 



A SWEEPER DISTRICT 317 

guage, that she really preached beautifully, and 
with great power and eloquence. After this 
short address, another hymn, and perhaps a few 
words from me, interpreted by Mrs. Moses ; we 
then returned to our waiting carriage and to 
Khetwadi Castle. 

Before I could go to the breakfast table, or 
mingle with other members of the family, how- 
ever, I must bathe and change my apparel. 
Omitting this precaution, in a single instance, 
would be liable to interfere seriously with my 
practice among the wealthy classes. My ser- 
vants would certainly report the matter ; and no 
wealthy, high-caste patient would come to me 
for treatment after I had been in a sweeper 
district, unless I had taken every such precaution. 



CHAPTER XXV 

OUR FREE DISPENSARY FOR SWEEPERS 

There being several sweeper districts in Bom- 
bay native city, and the needs of each being so 
many and so urgent, I soon found that the few 
morning hours which I was able to devote to 
this great work were not sufficient to enable me 
to attend upon even the most serious cases. I 
therefore dedicated one large, lower room in the 
back wing of Khetwadi Castle for the purpose 
of a dispensary for these poor sweeper people. 
Also a somewhat smaller, but light and pleasant 
communicating room, I utilized as an examin- 
ing office. 

From two o'clock until four in the afternoon 
this dispensary was supposed to be open; but, 
as a matter of fact, it was seldom closed before 
six o'clock in the evening. To this, our free 
sweeper dispensary, crowds of men, women and 
children came daily ; and brought their friends, 
afflicted with cholera, small-pox, leprosy, and 
every other serious and fatal, as well as trivial, 
malady to which mortals in that climate are 
heir. They filed in at the right hand door, the 
moment it was unbolted in the afternoon, and 
seated themselves close together on the right 
side of the great apartment, which was large 
enough to accommodate nearly two hundred per- 

(318) 



OUR FREE DISPENSARY FOR SWEEPERS 319 

sons. One of my nurses, sitting near the en- 
trance door, recorded the name, age, and all 
necessary particulars concerning each patient, 
and then passed them on to me. When I had 
examined them, they passed on to the medicine 
cupboard, where my dear Httle interpreter, Mrs. 
Moses, administered the drugs which I had pre- 
scribed ; after which they passed around and out 
at the left hand door, from the same side of the 
house at which they had entered. 

Not only did I administer drugs of the best 
quality, and anything and everything which was 
needful; but I also supplied a great deal of 
nourishment. Many of these sufferers were 
found to be in a condition of chronic starvation. 
On the lowest shelf of the medicine cupboard 
stood a row of large, open-mouthed, earthen 
jars, filled with oat -meal, rice, flour, and other 
nutritious articles of diet. The shelf above these 
jars was filled with bottles containing meat ex- 
tracts, broths, soups, and other nourishing Eng- 
lish preparations. When I found a feeble old 
woman or man, or a wee infant, in a state of 
chronic starvation, I prescribed some one of 
these nourishing and easily digested meat ex- 
tracts, broths or soups. In cases where the 
patients were more rugged, and perhaps in the 
prime of life, Mrs. Moses would take a bowlful 
of oat-meal or rice and give it to the patient ; if 
a woman, she would tie it in the corner of her 
sari ; if a man, he would tie it in the corner of 
his dhoti; and, having received full directions as 



320 KHETWADI CASTLE 

to the correct mode of preparation of this special 
kind of food, they would go their way grate- 
fully ; and take the food at stated intervals, as 
though it were some medicinal preparation. 



CHAPTEE XXVI 

OUR FREE SCHOOL FOR SWEEPER CHILDREN 

Though I was spending from three to four 
hours in the sweeper districts every morning, 
going from couch to couch, and from one pros- 
trate form to another, administering remedies, 
and doing whatever was needful for these poor 
stricken, suffering, starving sweepers ; and, 
though our dispensary was open from two to 
four hours every afternoon, I soon found that 
even this was not sufficient to meet the needs of 
the sweepers of Bombay native city. The sweeper 
children thronged the streets of Bombay, many 
of them not knowing who their true parents 
were, not knowing which of the many rooms in 
a certain district was their home. Unrestrained, 
untutored, undiscipUned, they hve upon the 
streets, stealing a bit of food here and there, 
picking it up from the streets — potato peelings, 
or cores or rinds of fruit — or gathering it from 
garbage barrels. Thus they become learned in 
all manner of vice, fluent in the use of many 
languages ; but ignorant, absolutely ignorant, of 
every right thing, of every pure, ennobling 
principle. 

For many days I cast about in my mind to know 
what I could do for the sweeper children. 
Soon I decided to dedicate another large room, 

(321) 



322 KHETWADI CASTLE 

one adjoiniDg the dispensary, on the lower floor 
of the back wing of our Khetwadi Castle, for 
the purpose of a free school for the children of 
the sweeper community. A fine, large, bright 
room it was, having two large windows on its 
western exposure, and two large, folding doors 
opening through its eastern side into a deep 
veranda, and into the back yard, or compound, 
of our Khetwadi Castle. 

We required no benches, desks, or chairs for 
this school, as all natives sit upon the floor, and 
a sweeper would scarcely knov^^ how to occupy 
any kind of an elevated seat. Maps, slates, 
pencils, pictures, etc., I did provide — everything 
which would be required in a primary school, 
where children go for the first time, without any 
knowledge of books or ever having previously 
entered a school-room. A native Christian 
sweeper, who had been educated in one of our 
Christian mission schools, and who was competent 
to teach, I engaged. The difiiculty which con- 
fronted me was that of collecting the children 
together, and inducing them to regularly attend 
school. This, Mrs. Moses assured me, would be 
a thing well-nigh impossible of accomplishment, 
as these children had never been accustomed to 
any kind of restraint or discipline. It would be 
difficult to keep them quiet, to hold their atten- 
tion, or to induce them to do anything except 
that which they might be prompted to do by 
their own wild, untutored, unrestrained natures. 
Obedience was a thing utterly unknown to them ; 




A STRING OF INDIAN MONKY 



OUR FREE SCHOOL FOR SWEEPER CHILDREN 325 

although abuse of every sort, kicks, and beatings 
from the people of their own caste, and abusive 
language from others, had been their daily por- 
tion nearly all their lives. 

The string of money in the picture before us 
represents the various coins peculiar to India. 
The rupee, a silver piece almost the exact size 
of a silver half-dollar, is the largest Indian coin ; 
and is worth about thirty-three cents. There 
are hundreds, I suppose thousands, of people in 
India who are so extremely poor, and who have 
spent their hves in country villages where all 
the people are so poor, that they have never in 
their lives even seen so large a piece of money 
as the rupee ; and would not recognize it if they 
were to see it. There are sixteen annas in one 
rupee ; and one anna is equal to about two cents. 
A tiny sea- shell, like that in the picture, also 
passes for money in India. It is called a cowrie, 
and is worth about the one one-hundred and 
twentieth part of a cent. 

In the interior of India; or, " up country ", 
as we say there, the usual wage of the sweeper 
is from two to four rupees per month, without 
board. We do not board any of our native ser- 
vants in India. In Bombay, however, where 
living expenses are greater, sweepers are em- 
ployed by government, and receive a higher sal- 
ary than in any other part of India, the regular 
amount paid them in Bombay being fifteen 
rupees per month. This is considered to be very 
handsome wages, and it is a matter of surprise 



326 KHETWADI CASTLE 

that the sweepers of that city are yet so desper- 
ately poor. This fact is due to various causes. 
As above intimated, the expense of living in 
Bombay is considerably greater than it is in the 
interior. 

Of course there is not employment for all. 
Only a few, comparatively, can obtain service. 
Often the family is large ; and perhaps only one 
person in the family has regular employment, 
the others being idle. On account of the larger 
salary given there, sweepers flock from suburban 
towns and from the interior to Bombay, seeking 
employment. Relatives also gather from distant 
villages, and are dependent upon their Bombay 
friends for support. Often it happens that the 
one individual in the family who is earning wages 
falls ill ; and then the whole family is in want 
of the direst kind. Vacancies, arising through 
sickness and death, are quickly filled from the 
ranks of the many who are idle and waiting for 
such openings. 

Thus the children, who are too young to obtain 
employment, are driven to the streets to steal, 
or to gather from garbage barrels enough food to 
keep themselves from starvation. 

Soon after deciding upon a free school for these 
vagabond, sweeper children, I sent Mrs. Moses 
and my other Christian nurses to all the sweeper 
districts of Bombay, and up and down the streets 
of Bombay native city, to announce to sweeper 
parents and their children that each sweeper 
child, who would come to the hospital dispensary 



OUR FREE SCHOOL FOR SWEEPER CHILDREN 327 

at nine o'clock on the following Monday morn- 
ing, would receive a gift of money. 

Saturday afternoon I sent my butler to the 
bank with several rupees to be changed into 
pies. The pie is the smallest copper coin, worth 
about one- sixth of a cent. My school-room was 
in readiness, and my native Christian teacher on 
hand, to greet the crowd of sweeper children 
who gathered at the appointed time. They 
were seated on the floor of the school-room, and 
listened attentively while I acquainted them 
with my plan. 

I found no difficulty in making myself under- 
stood, as these vagabond children had, on the 
streets of Bombay, acquired a sufficient knowl- 
edge of the EQgUsh language to be able to under 
stand and answer me in English. I represented 
to them the many and great advantages of an 
education, and endeavored to inspire in their 
young hearts an ambition for something better 
than anything which they had heretofore hoped 
for ; representing the possibility of their gaining 
English Government appointments, clerkships, 
etc., if they would only acquire sufficient educa- 
tion to enable them to fill such positions. I then 
presented each child with one pie, and promised 
to give another to every one who would remain 
until the close of school, at four o'clock in the 
afternoon, and who should prove attentive and 
obedient during school hours. There was no 
need to dismiss them at noon, as there is but one 
meal per day in the sweeper home, and that oc- 



328 KHETWADI CASTLE 

curs late in the evening ; so that it was not neces- 
sary for them to return to their homes for dinner 
at the noon hour. I need hardly say that every 
child remained until the close of school, when 
they each received another pie. This was a 
great thing for these poor sweeper children, I 
doubt whether many of them, if any, had ever 
before in their lives owned so much money as 
one pie in their own right. As I presented the 
second pie to each pupil, I promised another to 
every one who would return on the following 
morning at nine o'clock, and remain until four, 
being attentive, studious and obedient during 
school hours. I never again gave Uvo pies to 
any one pupil during a single day ; but one only, 
and that at the close of the school, to all who 
had fulfilled the conditions. 

Our school-room never lacked for pupils ; and 
it rarely happened that a single pupil was tardy, 
disobedient, or in any-wise unruly. 

Having established my free school for the 
sweeper children, I immediately decided to have 
a Sunday school as well. At four o'clock on 
Saturday afternoon, for we had school on Satur- 
day as well as on every other day in the week, I 
invited the children to return on Sunday at nine 
o'clock, as usual, and promised them, in addition 
to the usual pie, a treat of sweets. 

Native sweets are very delicious. They are 
not hard, like cheap American candy, but soft, 
delicious and very cheap. For a small amount 
of money I was able to get a bucket full of these 



OUR FREE SCHOOL FOR SWEEPER CHILDREN 329 

delicious candies, which I provided on the preced- 
ing Saturday. Our Sunday school was not 
merely one of an hour, or two hours session; 
but continued from nine o'clock in the morning 
until four in the afternoon. It seemed as neces- 
sary to keep the sweeper children off the streets 
on Sunday as on any other day in the week ; and 
far more necessary to teach them the blessed 
Gospel of Jesus Christ, than to teach them the 
rudiments of an ordinary education. On Sun- 
day, therefore, my sister, Mrs. Moses, my other 
Christian nurses and I went down to the school- 
room ; and there we conducted an all-day Sunday 
school for these poor sweeper children ; teaching 
them the blessed truths of the Gospel, singing, 
praying and talking. Of course there were Sun- 
days when I could give them only a part of the 
time; but there were other teachers enough to 
keep the Sunday school open during the whole 
day. 

We found the children bright, intelligent, in- 
terested, apt to learn, quick-witted; and alto- 
gether equal to any crowd of children that could 
be found in any land. They were quiet and at- 
tentive throughout, never giving trouble of any 
kind during the day school, or during the Sun- 
day school; and this notwithstanding the fact 
that they had led such utterly wild, unrestrained 
lives on the streets of that great city. 

This free work for the sweeper community — 
the day and Sunday school for the poor vagabond 
children, the morning visits to the sweeper dis- 



330 KHETWADI CASTLE 

tricts, and the free dispensary for the ill, starv- 
ing, and suffering ones of the community, soon 
became intensely, engrossingly interesting. 

Never before had I engaged in any service 
which was so delightful as this. The needs were 
so great, so numerous, and so urgent; the dis- 
tress so apparent and so terrible, that it was a 
real luxury to be able to afford the help so sorely 
needed, and to do it without compensation. In- 
deed I often wished that it were possible for me 
to rehnquish my office and out-practice, turn 
my hospital into a charity hospital for sweepers ; 
and devote my whole time, strength and life to 
this work among the sweepers of Bombay. Of 
course this was impossible, as I was laboring up- 
on the self-supporting basis, and had no income 
whatever, from any source, except that which I 
earned myself by the practice of my profession 
among the wealthy classes. It was my pay 
practice — office, hospital, and out- practice among 
the wealthy classes, which supported aU this 
charity enterprise ; it was by these means only 
that I was able to supply my free dispensary 
with drugs and nourishment for my poor sweeper 
patients. It was by these means only that I was 
able to pay the native teacher for teaching my 
sweeper school ; and to meet all other necessary 
expenses incidental to this great charity. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

A BANQUET FOR OUR SWEEPER FRIENDS 

You wiU be wondering what I did for the 
spiritual welfare of my adult sweepers, the 
patients who came to my dispensary. 

Even in the midst of my busiest professional 
life in India I could never forget that I was not 
only a physician, not only a money earner, not 
only a home-maker ; but that I was first, most, 
and pre-eminently a missionary • and that I had 
gone to India in obedience to a divine call. Very 
soon, therefore, after opening my free dispensary 
for sweepers and free school for sweeper children, 
I began to caste about in my mind as to the best 
method of reaching the hearts and consciences 
of my poor sweeper patients and their friends. 

There is a trite saying to the effect that one 
should not preach to a hungry man, but first 
satisfy his appetite, and then instruct him. If 
this adage holds true in a country hke ours, 
where so few people ever know what it is to be 
really hungry, then it must be more true in India 
and among sweeper people, who are seldom, if 
ever, fully satisfied with food; who, perhaps, 
never in their fives have had a sufficient quantity 
of food at any one time to fully satisfy their 
appetites ; and who know not the taste of palata- 
ble, appetizing dishes. Upon considering this, I 

(331) 



332 KHETAYADI CASTLE 

decided to give a banquet to my sweeper patients, 
their children and friends — indeed, to all the 
sweepers of Bombay. 

When I first announced this purpose to Mrs. 
Moses she stood aghast, and assured me that 
such a thing would ruin my business. She had 
often previously intimated to me the fact of 
there being a mutinous feeling among my ser- 
vants ; that they were in the habit of gathering 
in groups and discussing the work that I was do- 
ing for the sweeper community ; that they looked 
with great disfavor upon the whole matter of 
my free dispensary, free school, Sunday school 
and morning visits to the sweeper districts. 
Now, she assured me, if it were even mooted 
that I intended giving a dinner to the sweepers, 
and allowing them to come into my compoimd 
and partake of food there, my servants would 
immediately desert me ; and that I would not be 
able to find others whom I could engage ; as the 
news would spread among all the servants of 
Bombay, until no one would consent to serve in 
my institution. 

We had at that time eighteen servants in con- 
nection with the hospital, training school for 
nurses and private home. Many of these occu- 
pied the servants' quarters behind our Khetwadi 
Castle. * It would be impossible to keep the insti- 
tution open without them — a hospital capable of 

*For a full explanation of this servant question, see " Heroes 
and Heroines of Zion", Book III of "Within the Purdah", 
pages 191 to 197 inclusive. 



A BANQUET FOR OUR SWEEPER FRIENDS 333 

accommodating fifty patients, although not al- 
ways full, yet nearly always having a large 
number of patients in its wards ; a Medical Mis- 
sionary Training School, having from six to 
twelve student nurses; and a large, double 
nursery, containing seven adopted children, five 
of whom were less than six months old. I also 
had a large out-practice, and a still larger office- 
practice. For me to lose my servants, and to be 
unable to engage others, would of necessity ruin 
my business ; and oblige me to close my institu- 
tion. Nevertheless, after further consideration 
and much earnest prayer, I determined to give 
the proposed banquet for my sweeper friends, 
and so announced. 

It required no written invitation, and no per- 
sonal invitation to spread the tidings. In my 
morning rounds, and at my dispensary, I an- 
nounced that all the sweepers of Bombay, and 
their families and friends, were invited to come 
to the hospital compound at seven o'clock on a 
certain evening to a dinner which would be 
served at that hour. The news soon spread 
over all the city, until it was in the mouth of 
sweeper man, woman, and child, and httle else 
was thought about, or talked of until the ap- 
pointed day arrived. 

Meanwhile my servants, of course, heard the 
news ; and, first of aU, my butler came to me, 
bowing down before me in a low salaam, and 
begging leave to visit his mother ; who, he said, 
lived at Poona and now lay at the point of death. 



334 KHETWADI CASTLE 

He wept much, declaring that he was the only 
son of his only mother ; and that it would break 
his heart if she should die before he reached her. 
He must take the one o'clock train that day, 
else he would be too late. Meanwhile, as the 
butler stood before me weeping and begging 
leave of absence, Mrs. Moses stood behind me 
interpreting his words, and assuring me, in Eng- 
lish, that it was all a gotten up story; that he 
was leaving me on account of the banquet, that 
he did not intend to return, that his mother was 
not ill, that she did not hve in Poona, that he had 
no intention of leaving the city, etc. 

I did not know Mrs. Moses at that time, as I 
came to know her later on, and it seemed incred- 
ible that my butler could thus weep and misrep- 
resent to me. He said he would furnish a supply 
during his absence, and that he would return on 
the following Monday morning. I asked him to 
call his supply, in order that I might see him. 
He presently returned with a strange, native man, 
who declared that he would supply the place of 
my butler during his absence. I then paid my 
butler the amount due, and allowed him to go. 
He had scarcely left my presence, when the 
Hamal came and declared his intention of leaving 
me. He was much more honest than the butler 
had been, and did not hesitate to say that he ob- 
jected to having sweepers partake of food in my 
compound. Thus one after another came, until 
every servant in my employ, save our Christian 
Bhanna, the cook, and the sweeper woman, had 
taken their leave of me. 



A BANQUET FOR OUR SWEEPER FRIENDS 335 

I had scarcely finished dismissing my servants, 
when I observed that it was already past luncheon 
time, and wondered at hearing no lunch bell. I 
inquired as to the cause of this, and Mrs. Moses 
suggested that I accompany her to the dining- 
room. I saw in her manner and tone that there 
was mischief to pay. 

Upon entering the dining-room I found that no 
preparations had been made for luncheon. The 
cupboards, where the hospital stores were kept, 
and which were usually securely padlocked, were 
now wide open, several of the locks having been 
broken, and all of the stores were gone. There 
was not even milk for lunch, nor bread, nor any 
other thing. Towels, napkins, sheets, pillow- 
shps, and many other articles, besides fifty rupees 
in cash, were missing. I looked about for the new 
butler, who was to supply the place of my old 
one, but he was nowhere to be found. I went 
to the kitchen, and found that the cook had 
departed without even asking leave. Thus I 
was left with my hospital, whose wards were 
nearly full of patients, my student nurses, seven 
foundling children and several missionary guests, 
without a morsel of food in the house, and with- 
out a servant to prepare a meal, or to attend to 
any other domestic matter. Of course my own 
time was more than fully occupied, my hands 
and heart and brain being burdened, and over- 
burdened, with the many and great labors which 
devolved upon me. I was at a loss to know 
what to do, or how to proceed. 



336 KHETWADI CASTLE 

At length, however, Mrs. Moses volunteered 
to go to the market and bring food for the 
patients; and I gave instructions to the nurses 
to prepare luncheon for the patients, and to 
serve it as quickly as possible. Meanwhile I 
called upon several of my missionary neighbor- 
friends, and explained to them the dilemma 1 
was in; asking them kindly to speak to their 
servants, and to try and send me a staff of hos- 
pital servants with the least possible delay. 
This seemed well-nigh impossible ; and one after 
another of my missionary friends reported the 
difficulties which they found. 

The tidings of my proposed banquet for the 
sweepers had spread rapidly ; and no native ser- 
vant was willing to enter my service. The ser- 
vants, who had so unceremoniously deserted me, 
had sent out the warning, ' ' Do not go to that 
Dr. Sahib, or your caste will be broken; you 
will be contaminated and polluted by the sweep- 
ers, who throng the place. She has a free dis- 
pensary for sweepers, and a free school for 
their children ; and now she is to give a great 
dinner for all the sweepers of Bombay ; and you 
will be asked to cook for them, to wash the dishes 
which they have used, to serve them while they 
eat ; and, who knows what not ? ' ' Thus were 
the unemployed servants of Bombay warned 
against my service. At length, however, a few 
native Christian servants were found, whom I 
gladly engaged ; and, later on, others came, who 
were not Christians, but who were induced to 



A BANQUET FOR OUR SWEEPER FRIENDS 337 

try the place ; and these proved to be more or 
less satisfactory. 

As the time appointed for the banquet drew 
near, other difficulties confronted me. I had 
purchased a large quantity of the best rice ; and 
all sorts of curry stuffs, melted butter, cocoanuts, 
spices, green and ripe peppers, fish, chickens, 
eggs, various kinds of meat, etc. 

Sweepers have no objections to eating meat, 
or anything else. They are the lowest caste, and 
will take food from the hand of anyone ; because, 
all other people being of a higher caste than 
themselves, they cannot be polluted by others. 
The difficulty was to find some one willing to pre- 
pare this food for the sweeper dinner. No higher 
caste servant will cook for sweepers. 

Finally, my dear little Mrs. Moses, who never 
failed me in any emergency, and who was as in- 
terested in my work for swepers as I myself 
could be, kindly volunteered. She said that she 
never cooked in her own home, she had always 
hired a servant to do that; but she knew lioiu to 
cook curry and rice; and, if I could not get any 
one else to do it, she would cook the dinner for 
the sweepers. This was a great relief. Of 
course I accepted her offer gladly, as there was 
no one else upon whom I could call to do such 
a service. 

My sister then offered her services, saying that 
she did not know how to make curry and rice, 
but that she would help. If Mrs. Moses would 
tell her what to do, she wouldr gladly do all she 



338 KHETWADI CASTLE 

could toward the dinner for our sweeper friends. 

My Christian nurses then offered to help ; and 
so Mrs. Moses, my sister, and the nurses all went 
out to the kitchen in the back yard ; and there, 
in that small, dark, hot room, full of smoke, 
they cooked nearly all day; preparing meat- 
curry, fish-curry, chicken-curry, egg-curry, vege- 
table-curry — all in the greatest abundance, and 
of the most delicious kinds, using everything 
which was necessary to make each dish palatable 
and appetizing. 

Though the hour announced for the banquet 
was seven o'clock in the evening, yet our sweeper 
friends began coming at one in the afternoon; 
and we were rather glad they did; for there 
were so many of them that our back yard would 
hardly have been large enough to hold them, had 
they all arrived at one time ; so we fed them and 
let them go, while others crowded in. No room 
in our great Castle would have been large enough 
to hold our guests on that occasion. Of course 
I never entertained the thought of receiving 
them into the house. Had I done so, it would 
have ruined my business permanently ; as no high- 
caste, wealthy native patient would have come 
to me for treatment, after my house had been 
polluted by a company of sweepers dining in it. 

At seven o'clock our back yard, or compound, 
which was by no means small, was crowded 
with sweeper guests. We seated them on the 
ground as close together as possible ; while my 
sister, Mrs. Moses, my Christian nurses and my- 



A BANQUET FOR OUR SWEEPER FRIENDS 339 

self went in and out among them, serving them 
with the deHcious curry and rice which had been 
prepared for them. For once in their hves every 
man, woman and child of that commuinfcy had 
enough to eat, and all they could eat, of some- 
thing which was, to them, and even to us, pala- 
table and appetizing in the highest degree. 
When all had eaten, and were fully satisfied, 
then came the better part of the feast ; for we 
had reserved " The best of the wine for the last 
of the feast ". I had invited several native local 
preachers to be present, and to make short ad- 
dresses. This they did, interspersing the Gospel 
talks with singing, prayer, and exhortation ; and 
thus we held a "protracted meeting" — pro- 
tracted until far into the night. 

I wish I could tell you that a great revival of 
religion ensued, that all my guests were con- 
verted, or that a large number of those present 
experienced a change of heart ; but I cannot do 
so. I am not even sure that any one single soul 
was saved on this occasion. I do know, how- 
ever, that during subsequent services several 
adult sweepers did profess to experience a change 
of heart ; and, as far as we were able to ascer- 
tain, lived true, consistent Christian hves as long 
as we remained in Bombay. Whether the work 
were really genuine, whether they have contin- 
ued faithful since, I do not know; but I hope 
and trust that, at the great judgment day, when 
all records shall be opened, and all faithful work 
tried, we shall see some of our poor sweeper 
patients standing at the right hand of the King. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

OUR SERVANTS UNDER ARREST 

After the death of our good butler, and after 
all our other good servants of his time, except 
our Christian Bhanna, had departed from Khet- 
wadi Castle on account of the obnoxious presence 
of our poor sweeper patients, we were never 
again able to secure the services of equally com- 
petent, reliable and trustworthy servants, 

I soon found it difficult to purchase a sufficient 
quantity of milk in the morning to last us 
through the day. The monthly stores, which 
had previously been sufficient, ran out long be- 
fore the month was through. The key to the 
supply closet mysteriously disappeared, and 
could never again be found. A new one was al- 
so lost, and it seemed impossible to keep the place 
in repair; for, while we had a key, the lock of 
the door was sure to get out of order, and so our 
supply closet was most difficult to keep supplied. 
Table-cloths, table-napkins, towels, sheets, pillow- 
slips, baby clothes, and various and sundry other 
articles too numerous to mention, seemed to take 
to themselves wings and fly away. 

At length smaU sums of money were missed 
from my private drawer and elsewhere ; until, in 
one week, I lost fifty rupees. Then, in my dis- 
tress, I made the matter known to our friend, 

(340) 



OUR SERVANTS UNDER ARREST 341 

Rev. William W. Bruere, who was at the time 
a guest in the Castle, and whose wife was a 
patient in one of our hospital wards, and he un- 
dertook to right it. 

He went to our mutual friend, Mr. Crummey, 
an Englishman and the chief of police, whose 
wife was also a patient in my hospital. Mr. C. 
immediately sent officers to arrest my whole staff 
of servants. I had no intimation of their ap- 
proach until they stood at the front hall door of the 
Castle. When they made known their errand, 
I felt loath to subject my poor servants to such 
humiliation, and hesitated about permitting their 
arrest ; but the dire situation, together with the 
persuasion of friends, led me to yield. The 
servants' quarters were searched, and the ser- 
vants themselves were carried off to the police 
station, where they were required to give evi- 
dence. Nothing belonging to the Castle being 
found in their possession, except only a few 
sheets, towels, etc., they were released, after be- 
ing soundly scolded and threatened by the officers 
of the law. 

The butler's evidence ran as follows: " No, 
Sahib, no, we never stole money from the Dr. 
Sahib ; we did, all of us, live off her, and Uved 
hke cocks, but we never stole money ! ' ' This 
my butler considered to be a very mild confession 
to make. To Uve off their mistress or master 
(meaning to steal sufficient for the maintenance 
of themselves and famihes) he considered to be 
so light a matter, so small a misdemeanor, that 



342 KHETWADI CASTLE 

it would be easily overlooked ; but to steal money 
in any considerable quantity would, as they all 
well knew, be a theft punishable by law; and 
this they stoutly denied, although, from circum- 
stantial evidence, the chief of police and all the 
rest of us believed them to be guilty. 

They would have been punished but for my 
own remonstrance. Nor did the poor servants 
realize, perhaps, that for a crowd of seventeen 
or eighteen, together with their families, to " live 
off ' ' their Dr. Sahib, and ' ' to live like cocks ' ' 
meant more to her than any small money loss. 
However, I dismissed these servants, afterward 
engaging others who proved to be equally un- 
reliable. 

As a matter of fact, no native thief in India 
ever keeps stolen property about his own person, 
or on his own premises. He passes the stolen 
article on to his neighbor, his neighbor passes 
it on to another, and so it goes from place to 
place until it is quite beyond the reach of the 
party from whom it was stolen ; and there it re- 
mains until all search is abandoned, and the mat- 
ter is quite forgotten ; when it is returned to the 
party who made the theft. On this account we 
never entertained a hope of finding any of our 
lost articles in possession of our servants. 

Sheets, table-cloths, and the like, can always 
be utilized by native servants ; as their dhoti, and 
other native garments are made of plain, white 
muslin or linen. When all search for such arti 
cles is discontinued, the sheet, table-cloth, pillow- 



OUR SERVANTS UNDER ARREST 343 

slip, or whatever the article may be, is cut into 
native garments, and pieced in such a manner as 
to make it quite unrecognizable ; then it may be 
worn by your own servants, in your own pres- 
ence, and you will be quite ignorant of the fact. 



CHAPTER XXIX 

THE MISSIONARY BISHOP OF INDIAN METHODISM 
ARRIVES 

At the General Conference of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, held in Omaha, Nebraska, 
during the month of May, 1888, Rev. James M. 
Thoburn, D.D., was elected Missionary Bishop 
of India. During January, 1889, together with 
a large company of missionaries, he arrived 
in Bombay. January 31, 1889, the 13th ses- 
sion of the South India Conference of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church convened in Grrant Road 
Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Thoburn 
presiding, for the first time, in the capacity of 
Missionary Bishop. 

When I first learned that Dr. Thoburn was 
soon to arrive in Bombay, and that he was then 
Missionary Bishop of India, I felt no forebodings. 
It seemed to me that, ere this, he must have 
learned the facts concerning me ; that upon his 
arrival he would be ready, wilHng and glad to 
retract the untrue and wicked things which he 
had written about me; and that his coming 
could bode me no harm. I had long since 
forgiven ; and, in the midst of my great success, 
had weU-nigh forgotten his former enmity, and 
I feared no further trouble from him. My hopes 

(344) 



THE MISSIONARY BISHOP ARRIVES 345 

and confidence, however, were doomed to bitter 
disappointment . 

Soon after his arrival in Bombay harbor, a 
reception was tendered him in Grant Road 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Up to this time, though having suffered so 
much at his hands, I had never personally met 
Dr. Thoburn ; and, for the first time, I saw him 
in the pulpit of Grant Eoad Church, while my 
presence was unknown to him, being but one of 
a great crowd. Together with this throng, in a 
procession, I marched around and was formally 
introduced. I do not know whether, at the 
time, Bishop Thoburn caught my name, or 
recognized me as the person about whom he had 
written such evil statements. 

On this occasion, also, I met, for the first and 
only time, Bishop Thoburn 's wife, the beautiful, 
accomplished and saintly woman, Mrs. Thoburn, 
M.D. Some friend, I have now forgotten who, 
brought her and introduced me. I can never 
forget her kind greeting ; and I distinctly remem- 
ber the words she used : "I hear that you have 
met with great success in your work here. God 
must have blessed you wonderfully. ' ' To which I 
replied, " Yes, I have had success. God has been 
with me, and is with me, and does bless me. ' ' 
This was all that passed between us. Others 
pressed up, and claimed her attention ; nor have 
I ever met her since. Bishop Thoburn did not 
speak to me personally on that occasion, nor I 
to him. 



34:6 KHETWADI CASTLE 

At this time Bishop Fowler, his wife and son, 
together with twelve other missionaries, were 
guests in our Khetwadi Castle home. Some of 
these missionary guests were special and personal 
friends of Bishop Thoburn; and, through cour- 
tesy to them, I sent an invitation for Bishop 
Thoburn to take dinner with them and me in 
our home, which invitation he accepted. When 
he arrived somewhat early, however, I was out, 
in company with Bishop and Mrs. Fowler. We 
had been unavoidably detained, and returned 
later than we expected. After our return, din- 
ner was served almost immediately. With six- 
teen missionary guests, in addition to my regular 
family, which never numbered less than fifteen 
at the dining table, not counting patients or 
orphan children in the wards and nurseries, it 
can readily be understood that I could give but 
little attention to any one individual guest. 

At the long dinner table, my sister occupied 
one end, and I the opposite. Bishop Fowler sit- 
ting at my right, and Bishop Thoburn at my 
sister's right hand. Immediately after dinner 
Bishop Thoburn excused himself to meet an 
engagement. Thus no opportunity was afforded 
for any personal conversation between us. 

Some days later, I took Bishop Fowler, Mrs. 
Fowler, their son Carl, and some other mission- 
ary guests, on a picnic excursion to visit the 
Elephanta Caves. At the wharf we met Miss 
De Line, with Bishop Thoburn and others, 
on a similar picnic excursion, with the same 



THE MISSIONARY BISHOP ARRIVES 347 

destination in view. We journeyed thither in 
company; and yet not altogether in company, 
as each party remained somewhat separate and 
distinct — we having our dinner at one table, to- 
gether; while Miss De Line and her party took 
their luncheon at another table, within speaking 
distance of us. This was the third occasion of 
my meeting Bishop Thoburn, I have never 
seen him since; nor have I ever conversed with 
him for a period of even five minutes. 



CHAPTEE XXX 

THE BEGINNING OF THE END 

Hitherto, from the time of my own arrival in 
India until the arrival of Bishop Thoburn, my 
hospital, office, and out-practice had consisted 
largely, though not of course wholly, of Ameri- 
can and European missionaries and their parish- 
ioners. I had received a very large number of 
missionaries, of all denominations, into my hos- 
pital; and had treated and operated upon them 
there; besides having attended upon many in 
my office, and in their own homes. 

For medical advice, consultation, local treat- 
ment, or professional visits to their homes, I 
made no charge whatever to any missionary, or 
any member of any missionary's family ; indeed, 
I seldom even charged them for drugs, which I 
supplied at my own expense. When, however, 
they entered my hospital, and were boarded, 
nursed, operated upon, or treated in whatever 
manner might be necessary, within the walls of 
our Khetwadi Castle Hospital, my charge to them 
was just half that which I made to an ordinary 
European or native patient. Notwithstanding 
this fact, my success was largely due to the 
patronage of European and American mission- 
aries in India. Not only did I receive a consid- 
erable sum of money from them ; but they sent 

(848) 



THE BEGINNING OF THE END 349 

me many patients from their parishes, who paid 
me full fees. 

After the departure of Dr. and Mrs. Stone from 
Bombay, until the arrival of Bishop Thoburn 
and his company of missionaries, a period of al- 
most unprecedented success and prosperity at- 
tended my missionary and professional labors in 
Bombay. During the month of May, 1888, I 
earned and received, from the practice of my 
profession, something over three thousand rupees,' 
and, during all the months of that year, my 
monthly income averaged never less than one 
thousand rupees. 

For a brief description of professional services 
rendered to wealthy, high-caste patients, during 
this period, I refer my readers to ' ' In the Zenana 
Homes of Indian Princes", the second book of 
"Within the Purdah", published by Messrs. 
Eaton & Mains, New York City. 

From the time of Bishop Thoburn 's arrival in 
India, all this practice began to fall off, and soon 
ceased altogether. The missionary friends who 
had partaken of my hospitahty, and who had 
received my professional services, medical and 
surgical, without charge, now strangely and un- 
accountably left me ; seldom, if ever, even call- 
ing at the Castle, though they had been wont to 
drop in at frequent intervals, if not daily. 

All this was a matter which could not be de- 
fined. There were no charges preferred. There 
was no absolute slander afloat, so far as I was 
able to learn. Yet, somehow, by shrugs, intona- 



350 KHETWADI CASTLE 

tions of voice, and insinutaions, the missionaries 
came to feel that there was something wrong; 
and that they must keep aloof from us, and from 
our Khetwadi Castle home. Some of them, 
whose names I cannot now remember, did con- 
fess to me that they were afraid to have it known 
that they were our friends; not because there 
was really anything against us, but because Bis- 
hop Thoburn did not approve of us, and that 
thej feared him. 

Thus my large medical and surgical practice, 
which had grown from nothing to such great 
proportions, and all within a period of two 
years, gradually decreased more and more, until 
my earnings were not sufficient to cover the 
actual running expenses of our Khetwadi Castle 
Hospital, Medical Missionary Training School for 
Nurses, Free Dispensary for Sweepers, Free 
School for Sweeper Children and small Orphan- 
age of seven wee children. At this juncture, 
from long protracted over-taxation of body and 
mind, together with the added trouble and sorrow 
which had so quickly come to me after Bishop 
Thoburn 's arrival, my health failed; I feU ill, 
and was confined to my bed for a period of three, 
nearly four months. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

TROUBLE WITH A STUDENT NURSE 

On the 25th day of July, 1887, soon after 
opening my Khetwadi Castle Hospital, and be- 
fore getting fully settled in our new home, Miss 
Lilian Lucy Seitz became a student in my 
Woman's Medical Missionary Training School 
for Nurses; and the following article of agree- 
ment was prepared by her legal adviser, and 
signed by her grandmother, Mrs. Ruth A, Seitz, 
by herself, and by me : 

' ' Know all men by these presents that I, Saleni 
Armstrong, Doctor of Medicine, residing in Bom- 
bay, do undertake to receive into the institution 
known as. The Woman's Medical Missionary 
Training School, of which I am the Superintend- 
ent, Miss Lilian Lucy Seitz, for a full term of 
four years, and agree to give her the full course 
of medical training of the aforesaid institution, 
and I agree to provide her board and lodging for 
the above mentioned term of years on condition 
that: 

1st That a lump sum of Rs. 1,000 be paid to 
me the day she enters the school, and in addition 
the sum of Rs. — be paid me monthly, so long 
as she remains in the institution. 

(2) That the said Lilian Lucy Seitz do pay for 
her dliohi and clothe herself. 

(351) 



352 • KHETWADI CASTLE 

(3) That she conform to all the rules and 
regulations of the school. 

(4) That she retains health and reason. In 
case of her removal by death, or loss of health 
or reason, before the expiration of the four years, 
as above mentioned, I agree to pay her heirs 
what remains of the deposit of Rs.lOOO, after 
having deducted an amount sufficient to cover 
the cost of her tuition, board and lodging from 
the date of her entrance into the school, to the 
day of her removal, computed at the rate of Rs. 
50 a month. In case of the dissolution of the 
school for any cause, I agree and bind my heirs 
or executors to pay to her or her heirs or exe- 
cutors, the portion of the deposit of Rs. 1,000 
which remains after deducting the cost of her 
tuition, board and lodging, computed from date 
of her admission, to date of the dissolution of 
said school, at the rate of Rs. 50 a month. 

Should she withdraw for any other than the 
above reasons, she shall receive no refund. 

She will be expected to give me at least one 
hour of special assistance each day. 
July 25th, 1887. 

C Ruth A. Seitz, 
Signed -< L. L. Seitz, 

( S. Armstrong. 



Miss Seitz is an Eurasian. I do not know her 
correct age ; but I judge her to be about my own 
age, or not much younger. Her parents were 



{^^ 



"^^-t-ZJ*^ 




^'^fet/^^^es* 



A€u^ ^ ^(^ cC^^iyl^ y-CiciZ^ XjU<iA^^_ 
^ /La '" 










^/iZxk- 



ga^ 



J^ a, ^ti^^fiZii. ^ 

^^SAX^cx/^^ A- t^fiuZkJ ttg-o^ TiAA^fX^ tza^*^ 

FAC-SIMILl-: OF LEGAL AGREEMENT 
AVRITTEX ON GOVERNMENT STAMPED PAPER 



TROUBLE WITH A STUDENT NURSE 357 

both dead when I first met her. She resided 
with her grandmother ; but had some money of 
her own, which she had inherited from her father. 
She remained with me for a period of nearly two 
years; but, during the early spring of 1889, she 
left the institution of her own accord, and with- 
out any reason, except that she was tired of the 
work, her grandm other needed her, and she 
didn't wish to remain longer. 

As intimated in foregoing pages. Miss Seitz 
did not prove to be a satisfactory nurse. She 
was inattentive, indolent, and prone to shirk 
anything and everything that seemed like work. 
Moreover, she was, apparently, excessively fond 
of novel reading. Often and often, after having 
given her an earnest medical talk, intended to 
fire her heart with enthusiastic love for medical 
and nurse work, and to stimulate a wholesome 
zeal in her studies, I found her lying upon her 
bed reading a novel ; or, perhaps, sound asleep, 
the book having fallen from her hand. 

According to the agreement, Miss Seitz was to 
pay me a monthly sum, the amount of which is 
not named in the agreement, but which was 
orally understood to be ten rupees, or more, not 
less, so long as she remained in the institution. 
Instead of fulfilling this contract. Miss Seitz 
never paid me any monthly sum, nor any money 
whatever except the one thousand rupees given 
on the day of her entering the school. As a 
matter of fact, she was in the habit of making 
frequent and urgent appeals to me for money. 



358 KHETWADI CASTLE 

assuring me that her grandmother was ill and 
in great want. On this account, I told her that, 
in consideration of certain extra services to be 
rendered by her in and about the hospital, I would 
pay her a sum of ten rupees per month. This I 
did, notwithstanding the fact that the extra ser- 
vices promised were seldom rendered, and never 
satisfactorily performed. 

When Miss Seitz first left my institution, she 
asked leave of absence for a few days only to 
nurse her grandmother; who, she said, was ill. 
After an absence of a week, or more, she came 
to the hospital for her clothes and other belong- 
ings, told me that she intended severing her 
connection with the institution ; but that she did 
so of her own accord, breaking her agreement, 
and forfeiting the money which she had paid me 
in the beginning. All this she said to me per- 
sonally, of her own accord, and quite freely; 
leaving me in all good feeling and friendship. 
Afterward, however, I soon began to hear reports 
of dissatisfaction which emanated from her ; and, 
still later, I received a letter from her pastor de- 
manding a refund of five hundred rupees. 

Upon receipt of this letter I first called upon 
my pastor, the Rev. Homer C. Stuntz, and asked 
his advice in regard to the matter. He told me 
that, legally, I was under no obligation what- 
ever to refund any part of the money received 
from Miss Seitz ; and that, in his opinion, I was 
under no moral obligation to do so. I told him 
that I felt myself to be under no obligation to 



TROUBLE WITH A STUDENT NURSE 359 

refund any money ; but, on account of her claim 
of poverty and great need of money, I had de- 
cided to accede to her pastor's request, and to 
pay her the five hundred rupees ; but that I was 
not able to do so immediately. 

I then called upon the pastor of Miss Seitz; 
but found him so bitterly prejudiced against me, 
that I could gain no satisfactory interview. 
Later on, in reply to urgent and imperative de- 
mands for money received from him, I wrote 
him very kindly but exphcitly, telling him that 
I was under no legal obligation, and that I felt 
no moral obligation, to refund any money to 
Miss Seitz; but that, on account of her great 
need of money, I was willing to do so, and would 
do so as soon as possible ; but I stated clearly my 
utter inabihty to raise any money for her at 
that time. 



CHAPTER XXXII 

PRACTICING MEDICINE BY PROXY 

My institutional, professional, missionary and 
charity enterprises in Khetwadi Castle rapidly 
grew to such proportions, that the responsibility 
and labor involved became too great for any one 
pair of hands, for any one heart, for any one 
brain to long sustain. 

My household matters alone required constant 
care and oversight. To manage successfully 
from fifteen to eighteen servants, thoroughly 
untrustworthy and bent upon theft, required 
considerable tact and skill. There were also 
from eight to twelve student nurses to instruct 
at the bedside and in the operating room, to say 
nothing of the daily medical lectures in the office 
or lecture room of the Castle. Then my seven 
little, adopted children in the nursery cost me an 
endless amount of care, anxiety, and responsi- 
bility — their night and day nurses each requiring 
constant watching. Besides, there were all the 
patients in our hospital wards, with the heavy 
responsibility which is incumbent upon any 
physician who undertakes the charge of human 
health and hf e ; the office practice, where a large 
number of patients of every class and condition, 
rich and poor, high and low, native, European 
and American, came for advice, examination, 

(360) 



PRACTICING MEDICINE BY PROXY 361 

treatment and medicine; the out-practice which 
called me to the homes of rich and poor, from 
the English aristocrat on Malabar HiU, to the 
poorest native in the heart of the native city, 
night and day, to treat all manner of diseases to 
which mortals are heir; besides the occasional 
up-country visit to the home of a wealthy prince, 
nawab, rajah, or dewan. 

Besides all this, there was my daily visit to the 
sweeper district, my daily dispensary for the 
sweepers, my daily school and weekly Sunday 
school for the sweeper children; my regular 
family worship every morning; the Sunday 
afternoon Bible class for my servauts ; the Fri- 
day afternoon Bible reading for my nurses ; my 
Sunday afternoon religious service in each of 
the wards of the hospital; and the almost in- 
numerable other temporal, medical, surgical, and 
spiritual responsibihties which rested upon my 
heart day and night. There were months 
together, during which I averaged only from 
three to four hours sleep in the twenty-four ; and 
scarcely a day passed but that I missed a meal 
or two, simply because I had no time in which 
to take it — sweeper patients waiting in the back 
yard and crying out for attention ; wealthy, pay- 
patients waiting in the office and growing im- 
patient on account of delay; a messenger at 'the 
door waiting for me to follow his lead to the 
home of some out-patient ; while my breakfast, 
luncheon or dinner grew cold, and I suffered for 
the need of it. 



362 KHETWADI CASTLE 

Meanwhile my charities and missionary enter- 
prises were outstripping my pay-practice, though 
that was very large indeed, netting me from five 
hundred to three thousand rupees per mensem. 
In the midst of this overwrought, overburdened, 
white-heat of labor, care and anxiety, my phys- 
ical strength failed; I fell ill, and was confined 
to my bed for a period of nearly four months. 

It was a simple thing to dismiss my wealthy, 
pay-patients. When patients come with mon- 
ey in the pocket, and you are unable to at- 
tend to them, it is necessary only to send a mes- 
senger to say that you are ill, and cannot see 
them ; that you advise them to consult such, or 
such a doctor in the city. They may, perhaps, 
feel regret, because they know you, and have 
perhaps learned to love and respect you, placing 
confidence in your medical ability; but that is 
all, there is no real difficulty in the matter. The 
patient has the money, and can go where she 
will for medical advice, or treatment. 

Not so with my poor sweeper patients. There 
was no one to whom I could send them. True, 
there are free Government Hospitals and Dis- 
pensaries in the city of Bombay, plenty of them ; 
and these hospitals and dispensaries are intended 
for the poor sweeper just as much as for the 
proud brahman; but, on account of the caste 
prejudice and aversion to the sweeper, described 
on foregoing pages, it is impossible for the 
sweeper to avail himself of these charities. 

Necessarily the English government employs 



PRACTICING MEDICINE BY PROXY 363 

native assistants in these institutions. There 
may be, and probably is, an Enghsh physician 
at the head of all, in charge of each institution; 
but the house surgeon, the nurses, compounders, 
and all the servants about the place are, of 
necessity, natives ; and not only natives, but high- 
caste natives, or at least, higher caste than the 
sweeper. So it happens that when a sweeper 
patient comes to an English Government Hospi- 
tal, or Dispensary, seeking medical advice, treat- 
ment, or surgical operation, he is abused for his 
impudence, sent away without relief and threat- 
ened, in case he ever presume to return. The 
English Government is in nowise to blame for 
this. The English Government authorities are 
not aware of it; but the employees of the Gov- 
ernment, the servants and under officials in Gov- 
ernment employ, are guilty of this outrage ; and 
to them and to the poor sweeper patients alone 
are the facts known. What native nurse would 
extend needed care to a sweeper patient ? What 
native druggist would compound and dispense 
medicine to a sweeper patient ? What high- 
caste, native doctor would put his ear to the 
chest of a sweeper patient, take his pulse, ex- 
amine, or attend upon him in any way ? None 
of them would do it ; and so they threaten him 
and send him away without rehef . 

In view of this situation, what message could 
I send down to my poor sweeper patients, who 
waited in the back yard of our Khetwadi Castle ? 
Every day during my illness they gathered there, 



364 KHETWADI CASTLE 

coming in the early, early morning, hoping the 
Dr. Sahib would be better in the morning, and 
there they waited. My servants would go to them 
and, I fear, with harsh words would bid them de- 
part, telling them that the Doctor was ill, and had 
turned away her wealthy, high-caste patients, 
who came with money in their hands to pay her ; 
and how could they expect that she would see 
them ? But the poor sweepers were well used to 
harsh words, and heeded not the threats, or 
words of abuse; but, quietly sitting down upon 
the ground of that back yard, they waited. 
Some of them carried sick babies in their arms, 
others brought parents or middle aged friends 
upon stretchers. 

My nurses would go to them and explain, in 
kind words, the true situation, assuring them 
that it was useless to wait longer, as the Dr. 
Sahib was really ill, and had turned away all her 
wealthy patients, and was not able to see any 
one. Still they would wait and refuse to depart. 
When, at length, the servants went about their 
daily tasks, and the nurses returned to their 
wards, my poor sweeper patients would cry 
aloud to the Dr. Sahib, hoping that, somehow, 
somewhere, in some darkened room of that 
great Khetwadi Castle, she would hear their 
petition ; for they thought, if she could but know 
their terrible need and suffering, she would 
surely do something for their relief. Thus they 
came day by day and waited from the morning 
until the evening, heeding no command from 



PRACTICING MEDICINE BY PROXY 365 

servants or nurses; but still hoping that the 
voice of their distress might somehow reach the 
Doctor's sick chamber, and there be heard and 
heeded ; and so it did. 

I heard that cry ; and I knew that my poor 
sweeper patients were waiting below, and suffer- 
ing, and that there was no relief for them ex- 
cept as it came through me. That heart-rending, 
helpless cry of distress reached my darkened 
room, sounded in my ear, and awakened respon- 
sive and sympathetic cords in the depths of my 
own suffering soul; until I could not sleep, 
could not rest, could not recover. 

At length I called Mrs. Moses and said to her, 
'' Bring one of your little, blank nurse-books, 
and your pencil." When she came with them, 
I told her to write on such a page such a ques- 
tion, and to leave a space for its answer ; and 
then to write such another question, and leave a 
space ; and such a question, and such a question, 
and such a question, leaving spaces for the an- 
swers to be written in later on. Then I told her 
to take her thermometer and go down to the 
sweeper patients, and count the pulse, as she 
knew how to do, of the one who seemed most 
needy and most ill. Then I told her to take the 
temperature, and ask the questions that she had 
written down in her book, and to write each an- 
swer after each question, and then come back to 
me. When she did this, I told her to go to the 
dispensary and put up such and such medicine, 
and give in such and such a manner, mth such 



366 KHETWADI CASTLE 

and such directions; and then examine another 
patient as she did this one, and again bring the 
report to me. 

All this she did, until I was exhausted with 
the talking, thinking, and the labor of treating 
patients through another. Mrs. Moses then sent 
all the sweepers away, promising that I would 
treat a few more, in like manner, on the follow- 
ing day. So they came, day by day, and for 
nearly three months I thus treated my poor 
sweeper patients by proxy. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

FINANCIAL DISASTER 

AU the world seemed silent, sad and desolate 
to me on that horrible night in May, 1889. It 
was one of those hot, sultry nights peculiar to 
Bombay, just before the Wlonsoon breaks ; when 
the heat becomes insufferable, and when every 
living thing is parched, dry, and panting for 
breath. The thirsty earth was cracked, and 
gaping. Through that long, silent night, not a 
breath of air stirred the dust-laden leaves on the 
mango tree beside my office window. Even the 
moonbeams, usually cool, calm, and peaceful, 
seemed to scorch and shrivel everything they 
touched. The sky looked faded and dim in the 
distance ; and each star, a spark of fire, seemed 
to add somewhat to the terrible heat. 

Though physically feeble, from the prolonged 
illness of three months duration, from which I 
was just recovering, and sad at heart, on account 
of recent bereavement — three sweet, adopted 
babies, who had entwined themselves closely 
about my heart, had been taken from me within 
two days time — yet my mind was too anxious 
and troubled on account of financial burdens and 
difficulties to permit of sleep. Rest, even, was 
impossible to me; and so, as is my wont when 
anxious, troubled, or engaged in study, I paced 

(367) 



368 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the floor of my office, walking up and down, 
up and down, with bowed head and hands clasped 
behind me, throughout the long hours of that 
terrible, pain-fraught night. 

Only three of my seven adopted children were 
now left to me, Victor, Angle and Jay Gee. The 
great nursery seemed empty. In. the many 
wards of our Khetwadi Castle Hospital there 
were now only two or three patients, all the others 
having left during my recent illness. My office 
practice, too, had fallen off until, now that I 
was recovering my health again, I had very Ut- 
tle to do except the charity work, which could 
not be stopped. My out-practice also had fallen 
away, from the same cause, the news of my ill- 
ness having been spread abroad, and nearly all 
my patients having sought medical aid else- 
where. 

Meanwhile the expenses of my institution were 
very little, if any, less than before. About one 
thousand rupees per mensem were required to 
keep the institution running. 

It was impossible to know, in the beginning, 
how long my illness would last. We all hoped 
that it would be a matter of a few days only ; 
and it never occurred to me to close the institu- 
tion on that account. As the days and weeks 
passed by I still hoped that I would soon be bet- 
ter, and there seemed nothing to be done but to 
keep the hospital open, and wait for my perfect 
recovery. 

True, during the two preceding years I had 



FINANCIAL DISASTER 369 

earned, and received, a large amount of money ; 
but my income had never been uniform in 
amount. Some months I had received a less sum 
than the actual running expenses of my institu- 
tion; while during other months my receipts 
were very large; as, for instance, during the 
month of June, 1888, I received something over 
three thousand rupees in cash. When, therefore, 
my missionary and charity enterprises did, for a 
time, exceed the income from my pay-practice, 
I felt no special alarm, thinking that I should 
soon receive a call to one of my up-country 
patients, which would net me a handsome sum, 
as such calls had done before; or that, during 
the coming months, my practice would again 
increase ; or that I should be able to collect some 
of the moneys due me, and so all liabilities 
would be easily met. This no doubt would have 
been the result but for my serious and prolonged 
illness, which threw me still further behind 
financially, and seriously interfered with the 
practice of my profession. Even then, had I 
had the support, sympathy, and advice of one 
strong, disinterested friend, who would have 
indorsed and supported me in my own better 
judgment, no serious catastrophe would have 
befallen us in our Khetwadi Castle. The money 
then due me, on account of professional ser- 
vices, amounted to hundreds of dollars; nearly, 
if not quite, enough to cover all my liabilities. 
Unfortunately, however, I had not been able 
to keep accurate accounts, because of writer's 



370 KHETWADI CASTLE 

cramp from which I suffered, never having had 
an efficient secretary, being overbardened with 
work and much pressed for time. Now it 
seemed impossible for me to collect these out- 
standing bills. I did not know how to go about 
it. Alas, our beloved Brother Bowen had left 
us, and gone to his eternal reward. Our dear 
friends, Dr. J. Sumner, and Mrs. Kate Stone, 
had long since returned to America; so also 
had our friends, Rev. William W. and Mrs, 
Carrie Bruere, and Rev. A. W, Prautch; while 
our dear friends. Rev. B, and Mrs, Laura Mitch- 
ell, had but recently sailed for the home-land. 

Before the departure of Rev. and Mrs. Mitchell, 
I explained to them my exact financial situation ; 
and it was through his kindness that I secured 
a loan of money from Messrs, William Watson 
& Co., which enabled me to settle up all my 
small accounts, and to owe but one company 
only, instead of many single individuals, who 
were probably less able to wait for their money. 
As security, I had my life insured in favor of 
Messrs. Watson & Co., for double the amount 
of money borrowed, and they agreed to keep up 
the policy until the liquidation of the entire 
debt. I also gave them a chattel mortgage on 
my fine medical and surgical outfit, which was 
then worth about one thousand dollars. Besides 
this, Brother Mitchell signed a note with me for 
the whole amount. The parties to whom I was 
indebted were, therefore, doubly and thribly 
secured. 




RF.V. it. AND .MRS. LAlhW MITC'IIKLL 



FINANCIAL DISASTER 373 

What a strange, unaccountable thing it seemed 
to me that, in this my time of emergency, every 
one of my Indian friends— every one to whom I 
would naturally look for comfort, encouragement, 
sympathy and advice — was separated from me 
by seas and continents. Oh, for one true, stead- 
fast friend, to whom I might confide the bewilder- 
ing difficulties of this dire situation! Oh, for 
one wise, thorough-going, intelligent business 
friend, to whom I might go for counsel ! Where 
are my friends, anyhow ? What has happened 
to them all ? A few weeks ago this great Castle 
was thronging with guests ; all of whom claimed 
to hold us in warmest friendship. If we ever 
sat down to a meal without company it became 
a cause of remark ; and some one of the nurses 
would be sure to say, ' ' Well, there will be some- 
body here before we are through eating, never 
fear." It was seldom that we ever did eat a 
meal in our Castle alone with our own regular 
family ; during nearly every meal in every day, 
for weeks and months together, there were guests 
at our table ; and if, by any chance, we began a 
meal alone, some one would invariably call and 
finish with us. Such was the open house I 
kept. But now, where are they all ? When I 
fell iU how soon the news spread abroad that I 
was iU, that my pay-practice had ceased, that 
my charity practice continued ; and that I was 
faUing behind financially. Then how very soon 
the friends, who before seemed so warm and 
came so frequently, fell off; and seemed to for- 



374 KHETWADI CASTLE 

get that they ever had been frequent callers at 
our Khetwadi Castle. Those who shared our 
hospitality, those who had received medical ad- 
vice, examination, treatment, medicine and pro- 
fessional visits in their homes, all without charge, 
how few of them ever came to inquire whether 
I were better or worse, or likely to recover at 
all. It seemed a revelation to me. In my child- 
hood I had been told that friends would gather 
about you during days of prosperity, and for- 
sake you in hours of adversity ; but I never be- 
lieved it, much less did I think it possible that I 
myself could ever have such an experience. 

Such thoughts as these occupied my mind and 
inflamed my already fevered and excited brain, 
as I paced up and down my office through the 
watches of that long, sultry night. At the dawn 
of day, utterly exhausted from the night's vigil, 
I threw myself on a long camp chair and fell in- 
to a heavy, troubled sleep, from which I did not 
awake until six o'clock in the morning, when 
the butler came in search of me, bringing the 
usual thin slice of toast and cup of coffee. Then 
the duties of the day pressed upon me ; for there 
were duties to perform, even though I had but 
few wealthy patients to attend upon either in 
my hospital, office, or at their homes. My 
sweeper district was still in need of the regular 
morning visit, my sweeper patients still came to 
the afternoon dispensary; and aU my charity 
work remained upon my hands and cried out for 
attention. 



FINANCIAL DISASTER 375 

Toward evening, after the weary day, I received 
a visit from a wealthy Enghsh lady of Bombay, 
who called ostensibly in the capacity of a friend. 
She came in her handsome private carriage, with 
coachman and footman, waited upon by liveried 
attendants, attired in her handsomest silk, and 
bedecked with jewels. When comfortably seated, 
she informed me that she had heard of my diffi- 
culties, that I was in financial straits, and unable 
to extricate myself. She then assured me that 
she had known it all in advance ; that, when I 
first rented Khetwadi Castle, she knew it was a 
mistake. She saw from the beginning that I 
was making a great blunder, no one could un- 
dertake so much at one time, and carry it 
through to successful issue. I ought never to 
have taken those orphan children — never in the 
world. It was a carzy thing for me to do. I 
might have known that they would die ; for that 
matter, it was better that they did die ; for I 
could never have supported them had they lived. 
The hospital was far too large, the training 
school too great a venture, and the whole busi- 
ness a monstrous mistake. She saw it from the 
beginning, she knew it all the way through, she 
had been looking for a failure from the ver}^ 
start. She could then have told me just what 
the result would be. I wondered why she did 
not do so; but, having known it from the begin- 
ning and never having mentioned to me the pos- 
sibihty of disaster, I wondered why she should 
do so now at all. As my caller, Mrs. M — , spoke 



3Y6 KHETWADI CASTLE 

thus, there was a subtle mahcious gleam in her 
little black eyes, which made me recoil froni her 
as if, in the dark, I had placed my hand upon 
the cold, squirming body of a snake. I have 
since seen that same look in the eyes of a street 
arab, as he was mercilessly torturing an insect, 
Hov/ever, she had made known to me her mind, 
and it seemed to be a source of infinite relief 
to her. 

Of course, I had nothing to say. The situation 
at that time was certainly difficult enough ; but, 
although she had known all my past life in ad- 
vance, she seemed quite unable to advise me as 
to my future course. At the conclusion of my 
friend^s remarks, she withdrew, smiling upon 
me in the most complaisant manner, as one who 
had performed a good and worthy deed. 

As my troubles and perplexities increased, the 
heat, also, seemed to increase in its fierce, 
scorching intensity ; and so another night began 
without relief to body or mind. Late, late in 
the evening, when all was still as death, our 
good Bhanna crept noiselessly through the back 
hall and up the stairs to my office, where I sat 
alone nursing my miseries. He did not rap at 
my office door, but spoke in an undertone, ask- 
ing permission to enter. When I bade him come, 
he entered stealthily, like one pursued ; gave a 
quick, keen glance about the room, and then 
told me that a friend waited in the street below 
to see me ; but that no one must know he had 
called, no one must see him come or go ; only he 



FINANCIAL DISASTER 377 

and Mrs. Moses, besides myself , must know about 
it. " Well ", said I, " the servants are all asleep 
in their quarters, the nurses are in their rooms 
sleeping, the house is empty of guests, you may 
just engage the attention of the night-watchman, 
while Mrs. Moses brings this friend to my office ; 
and nobody shall know of the call. ' ' He assented ; 
and, quicker than it can be told, he fled noise- 
lessly from my office, through the upper hall, 
down the stairs and out. 

Presently Mrs. Moses and a strange Parsee 
gentleman entered my office. I looked upon the 
man curiously, and not without a feeling of 
alarm, that he should come to me at such an 
hour, and with such precautions of secrecy. I 
had never seen his face before ; I felt sure that he 
was an entire stranger to me. He seemed in- 
tensely nervous, had au ashen, pallid face, was 
dripping with perspiration and trembling in 
every limb, as one pursued unto death. He took 
my office in at a glance; and then, in whispered 
words, told me that he was a friend, that he was 
risking everything in coming to make known to 
me my peril. He then said, ' ' Your landlord is 
a Parsee, is he not?" "Yes", said I, "what 
of that ? " " You owe him something, your 
rent is in arrears, your goods in this house will 
be attached to-morrow. If you have anything 
valuable, anything which you especially prize, 
get it out of the house to-night. Otherwise 
you will lose all. He is a bad man, he will 
spare nothing, he will take all you have. In re- 



378 KHETWADI CASTLE 

moving your valuables you must take great care, 
as your house is now being watched by your 
enemies day and night." Having said this he 
did not wait for my thanks, he did not wait for 
my reply, but hastily, stealthily he glided away, 
passing down through the Castle and out to the 
back alley, and so departed. 

I never saw the man again ; but he certainly 
acted the part of a true friend, though an utter 
stranger, as far as I knew, and not even a Chris- 
tian, but a heathen Parsee ! 

After the departure of this strange, unan- 
nounced visitor, I went to my sister's room and 
told her what had happened. She then con- 
ferred with Mrs. Henry, an English lady, who 
was a special friend of hers, and a patient in our 
Khetwadi Castle Hospital at the time. Still 
later, my sister and her friend called upon our 
next door neighbor, just over the wall from the 
back wing of our Castle; and, at his kind sug- 
gestion, my sister, Mrs. Henry, and Mrs. Moses, 
with the assistance of our two good and faithful 
servants, Bhanna and the Boy, lowered my three 
large American trunks from my upstairs bed- 
room window to the compound, or back yard, of 
our neighbor, who kindly removed them to his 
own house for safe keeping, until our immediate 
trouble and danger should be over. These trunks 
contained manuscripts, heirlooms and other 
prized, though not valuable trophies, which 
could be of no use to my Parsee landlord, but 
would be a very serious loss to me. 



FINANCIAL raSASTER 379 

On the following morning two strange, Parsee 
men, accompanied by a native bailiff, visited our 
Castle, and all the goods within its walls, save a 
few cooking utensils and such dishes as were 
absolutely needed for daily use, were attached 
and stowed away in the great double room, 
which constituted my office and reception rooms. 
These apartments were separated only by an 
improvised extension screen ; and the goods were 
placed there under Government seal, so that we 
had no further use of that part of the house, 
nor of any of our goods. 

Among these attached goods were all my med- 
ical and surgical instruments and apparatus, 
which constituted the fine medical and surgical 
outfit which had been presented to me by my 
father, and by our mutual friend. Rev. J. G. 
Miller, of Passadina, Cahfornia, just before I 
sailed for India. They were packed in an im- 
mense, American sample trunk, which had been 
made for that purpose, and which contained a 
separate apartment for each case of instruments, 
being lined throughout with fleece-faced felt, of 
the best quality. 

The two Parsee men and the bailiff were 
scarcely off the premises when I received an- 
other friendly call; this time from a missionary 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. John 
E. Robinson"", who had been a warm friend to 

*This Rev. J. E. Robinsou is the same gentleman to whom 
the letter on page 148, of this work, written by Mrs. Kate E. 
Stone, is addressed. 



380 KHETWADI CASTLE 

US, and a patient of mine; and who had pro- 
fessed a feeling of great obhgation to me, on 
account of benefit experienced from my pro- 
fessional services. He came, ostensably, to ex- 
press his sympathy and extend condolence ; but, 
apparently, as a spy and ' ' to see the barren- 
ness of the land ". He even asked the privilege 
of paying a visit to my office, where all the 
goods of the Castle were stowed and under Gov- 
ernment seal. When he was permitted to do 
this, he looked upon the situation with such evi- 
dent and insuppressible gratification that it added 
no small torture to the sum of my already ac- 
cumulated miseries ; and yet, somehow, I could 
not regard him in any other light than that of 
a friend ; and so I actually ventured to ask his 
advice, which, however, he did not vouchsafe to 
give. He could suggest no solution to my diffi- 
culties ; although, to others, he had freely criti- 
cised all I had done up to date, but now volun- 
teered no suggestion as to my future procedure. 
After his departure, I drove down to the office 
of Mr. Allan F. Turner, Solicitor High Court; 
and laid before him my exact financial situation. 
He kindly ofi'ered to undertake the adjustment 
of my affairs, and to wait for his fees until such 
time as I might be able to pay them. Accord- 
ingly, he accompanied me to the Castle, and 
thence to the Small Cause Court, where he soon 
succeeded in obtaining a hearing, and the release 
of all my goods, the Judge allowing me a period 
of six months in which to pay the rental in 
arrears. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

OUR UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR 

During the month of May, 1889, just as I was 
beginning to convalesce from my long illness, 
but before the occurrence of the financial disaster 
described in the preceding chapter, a hired car- 
riage, containing a Parsee gentleman and an 
EngHsh lady and gentleman, stopped in front of 
our Castle door. 

The lady alighted from the carriage, and was 
presently ushered into my presence. She wished 
to enter my hospital for the purpose of receiv- 
ing medical care and treatment. With this in 
view, I showed her several of our hospital wards, 
and told her what my usual charges for hospital 
patients had been. She seemed delighted with 
everything, and declared that she had paid at the 
Bombay hotels, for board alone, more than I was 
charging her for a beautiful room, board, medi- 
cal treatment, nursing and all. It did not take 
her long to decide. She went out to the car- 
riage, had her trunk brought in, and was soon 
comfortably settled in her ward. She gave her 
name as Mrs, Henry, said her husband was a 
Civil Engineer in EngUsh Government employ; 
and that their home, at present, was in the Cen- 
tral Provinces, near the line of the new Gov- 

(381) 



382 KHETWADI CASTLE 

ernment railroad, which was at that time being 
constructed. 

Our new patient was a very pretty, intelli- 
gent, and in every way attractive young woman ; 
and my sister and she soon became the warmest 
of friends. 

Mrs. Henry paid me one hundred and fifty 
rupees in advance, for one month's hospital 
board, daily medical treatment, nursing, etc. 
This was a great help to me, coming as it did 
during the time of my greatest need. Nor was 
this the only help she rendered us. Nearly every 
day she went to the bazaars in her own hired 
carriage, taking my sister along with her, and 
brought back great baskets full of the choicest 
fruit — mangoes, custard apples, guavas, etc. — 
for our family table. Indeed, she seemed to have 
any amount of money, and spent it with a lav- 
ish hand. She expressed herself as being highly 
delighted with her room, medical treatment, the 
hospital arrangements, charges, and everything 
about the place. In fact, she made herself most 
agreeable, greatly cheering all hearts, and light- 
ening all burdens. If she then had any knowl- 
edge, or any suspicion, of my actual financial 
situation, I did not, and do not, know it. It 
seemed to me that she had been sent, in 
this time of my direst emergency, by a special 
divine providence, to render my terrible trials 
less severe, and to lighten the burdens which 
seemed greater than I was able to bear. 

On that terrible night, when the strange Par- 



OUR UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR 383 

see came to warn me of impending disaster, and 
I had made the facts known to my sister, she 
explained the situation to Mrs. Henry. Then it 
was that she proved herself to be a friend indeed. 
She immediately came to me and offered the loan 
of money — one hundred, two hundred, three hun- 
dred rupees — whatever I needed and was willing 
to accept from her as a loan. At first I hesi- 
tated; but, afterward, I accepted another one 
hundred and fifty rupees as advance payment for 
medical treatment, hospital board, nursing, etc. 
This, of course, was a help, a very great help ; 
but we had fallen behind several thousand 
rupees, and one or two hundred did not go far by 
way of relieving our pressing needs. Every 
month, during my past illness of three months 
duration, my expenses had never been less than 
one thousand rupees. 

Besides this, prior to my illness, I had fallen 
behind considerably; so that, altogether, my lia- 
bilities in Bombay amounted to about four thous- 
and rupees. This seems like a very large sum of 
money to owe ; and yet I had frequently earned 
more than this amount during two months of 
.successful practice of my profession in Bombay ; 
and could have done so again, had I been given a 
little time in which to recuperate my health, and 
reestablish my practice. Now, however, since 
the attachment of my goods, I had no heart for 
anything — weak and debilitated in body, crushed 
and broken in spirit, disappointed in friends, and 
pursued unto the death by my enemies ; alone in 



384 KHETWADI CASTLE 

a strange, foreign land, I was desolate and 
troubled beyond expression, and my burdens 
seemed overwhelming, 

Mr. Allan F. Turner, my kind legal adviser, 
my sister, and our mutual friend, Mrs. Henry, 
each and all advised that I sell my household 
effects and move to Lahore, Punjab ; where my 
charity work would be unknown, and where I 
could establish a private practice without being 
continually besieged by poor people for gratui- 
tous medical services and free medicines. 

This advice I felt extremely loath to act upon. 
First, because I was unwilling to leave Bombay 
until every debt was fully met and liquidated. 

Secondly, because I felt so sure that I could 
again establish a large and lucrative practice 
right there in my Khetwadi Castle, or in any other 
part of Bombay ; and, lastly, because I so dearly 
loved the work which had engrossed my every 
thought and interest during the last two and a 
half years of my residence in India. And yet 
I, too, realized that it would be difficult, if not 
impossible, for me to discontinue my charity 
work, while I was establishing anew my pay- prac- 
tice just where my charity work had been so ex- 
tensive. Yet it would be impossible for me 
longer to continue the charity work without an 
established income from pay-practice. 

Besides this, I felt so humilated and disgraced 
in Bombay by the attachment of my goods, and 
the talk which this had occasioned, that I had no 
heart to start anew in the same place. When, 



OUR UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR 385 

finally, after spending many nights in earnest, 
agonizing prayer, and many days in thoughtful 
consideration, taking counsel with my three only 
advisers — Mr. Turner, Mrs. Henry and my sis- 
ter — I finally decided to move to Lahore. With 
this in view, I sent a hst of my household goods 
around among my missionary acquaintances, and 
other EngMsh and American friends, thinking 
that they might purchase from me any articles 
needed by them at more reasonable prices than I 
could obtain from the ordinary second-hand fur- 
niture dealers. In this, however, I was disap- 
pointed. 

One case only, of the many, I will mention. 
An American lady physician called at the Castle 
and sent to my room a note, expressing warmest 
sympathy with me in my trouble. When I went 
down to meet her, however, I found that there 
were several articles of furniture which she 
wished to purchase from me. I told her the 
prices, which were just half the original cost, 
though the furniture had been in use for a 
period of one year only, and was none the worse 
for wear. She said she would let me know her 
decision later on in the day; and, after returning 
to her home, she sent a servant with a note 
offering me one -fourth the price I had mentioned 
to her, which was considerably less than had 
been offered me by a second-hand furniture 
dealer in the native city. 

At length I parted with all my furniture for 
the merest trifle, actually sacrificing everything, 



386 KHETWADI CASTLE 

and receiving in return not enough money to 
pay my servants, and our railv^ray fare to Lahore ; 
and yet these same goods had cost me over tv^o 
thousand 7mpees. At this critical juncture our 
dear, new friend, Mrs. Henry, who, by the way, 
was not a church member, and did not even 
profess to be a Christian, came forward again 
and begged me to accept from her a sum of 
money sufficient to pay the passage of myself 
and interpreter to Lahore, and enough in addi- 
tion to pay the freightage of such goods as we 
were obliged to take with us. By dire necessity 
I was forced to accept this most kind offer ; but 
when I offered her a note for the money she re- 
fused it. Then I offered her a due bill, which 
she also refused, declaring that the money was 
a gift, that it was a great pleasure to her to be 
able to help me in this time of need, and she 
begged me not to mention the matter to her 
again, nor to any one, and never to think of re- 
turning it. I insisted upon her accepting my 
note, but she obstinately refused, thus placing 
me under hfe-long obhgations to her. 

When, finally, I was forced to silence by her 
kind, loving entreaty, I determined to return 
the money to her at the earliest possible date, 
and in such a manner as to oblige her to accept 
it. This, however, she never allowed me to do ; 
for, from the time of our leaving Bombay, I was 
never afterward able to discover her where- 
abouts, or to obtain her correct address. My 
sister and I each wrote to her again and again, 



OUR UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR 387 

but received no answer. We wrote to the post- 
master of the town where she had told us she 
lived. He rephed that he knew no such person, 
and that there was no family of that name hv- 
ing there. We have never since been able to 
find her, nor have we ever heard, directly or in- 
directly, from our strange, unknown benefactor. 



CHAPTER XXXV 

FRIENDSHIP 

Friendship, it is the nearest tie, 
Which bindeth hearts beneath the sky. 
Thy mother may thy mother be. 
And yet ^friend ne'er prove to thee. 

When Christ His chosen twelve addressed. 
This sacred truth He well expressed : — 
" Servants I call you not ", said He, 
" But friends forevermore are ye; 

For all things, whatsoever I 
Have gained from out the courts on high, 
Have I made known to each of you. ' ' 
Best test of friendship, warm and true. 

A mother may neglect her child. 
Who on her bosom cooed and smiled ; 
Forgetful of her suckling be, 
Unkind and cruel, even, she. 

A father may his son disown, 
A son his father may dethrone ; 
A daughter scorn her mother's love, 
Though true and pure as that above. 

A sister may a traitor be. 

And prove the direst enemy — 

May speak in words which seem most fair, 

While compassing your ruin there. 

(388) 



FRIENDSHIP 389 

A brother may unfaithful prove, 
And cast away his sister's love. 
A husband, e'en a wife, I trow, 
May be untrue to every vow. 

But if thy kindred also be 
A true and honest friend to thee, 
Then may'st thou give to love free rein, 
And fear no after-throb of pain. 

Else, mark thee well, and bear in mind, 
A friend is truer and more kind 
Than any kindred, howe'er near. 
Who has not proved his friendship clear. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

GOOD-BYE TO KHETWADI CASTLE 

The preparations for our departure from Bom- 
bay were difficult, and involved much pain and 
heart-ache all around. It seemed unadvisable 
that my sister should accompany me to Lahore, as 
I had scarcely money enough to pay my own rail- 
way passage and that of my interpreter, whose 
services would be so imperatively necessary, from 
the very beginning, as to render her going an 
absolute necessity. Besides this, the trip was 
entirely uncertain as to its ultimate result. The 
outlook was anything but promising. To enter 
a strange, foreign city, with impaired health, in 
the very height of the hot season, and without 
money, without friends, without introduction, 
and without a start of any kind, was a venture 
fraught with uncertainty, if not actual peril. 

It was, therefore, arranged that my sister 
should remain in Bombay, and board at Mrs, 
Briggs' Temperance Hotel, until such time as I 
might establish a lucrative practice in Lahore, 
and thus be able to send for her. 

Then there were my three, dear adopted chil- 
dren, Victor, Angle and Jay Gee. They could 
not be taken without involving heavy additional 
expense, and would, if taken, greatly trammel 
me in my efforts to establish myself profession- 

(390) 



GOOD-BYE TO KHETWADI CASTLE 391 

ally in a strange community. After much care- 
ful, and prayerful consideration and discussion, 
we decided to leave the little folks in care of Mrs. 
Isaac, the aged mother of Mrs. Moses. Two 
small but comfortable rooms in one of the 
chawls, near Grant Eoad, were rented by me at 
the low rate of four rupees per mensem. These 
rooms I managed to furnish very comfortably, 
covering the floors with matting taken from the 
Castle, and settling everything with my own 
hands. I also left a sufficient supply of fuel, 
groceries, and other provisions in the house to 
last the family for a period of two months, or 
such a matter, besides twenty rupees in cash, for 
incidential expenses. The rental I also paid up 
for several months in advance. When aU was 
ready, we brought Mrs. Isaac and the three chil- 
dren over, and saw them comfortably established 
in their new quarters, to which there was a very 
pleasant front veranda, and also a back veranda 
and stairway — the rooms being in the second 
story of the cliawl. 

I then settled up with my servants, paying 
them all the money I could possibly spare, and 
promising to send them the balance due as soon 
as I should be able to do so. To Bhanna I gave 
my horse, Tom, allowing him to be sold to the 
highest bidder for whatever he would bring, the 
money going to Bhanna. Unfortunately Tom 
brought only twenty rupees ; although, just two 
years previously, I had paid two hundred and 
fifty rupees for him ; and he was then considered 
to be a great bargain at that price. 



392 KHETWADI CASTLE 

After this I gave Bhanna instructions to wait 
at the front door of our Castle, from morning 
until evening of every day for a period of two 
weeks, and to direct all callers, and especially 
any creditors who might come, to my attorney, 
Allan F. Turner, Esq., to whom I had intrusted 
the entire management of my business affairs. 

At 9 o'clock on the morning of June 1st, 
1889, in a hired open carriage, I drove to the sta- 
tion; in company with my sister, Mrs. Moses, 
and Mrs. Henry. There I was met by a crowd 
of my native servants, and a few of my poor 
patients, who had come to say the last good-bye. 

It was a sad parting for us all; but especially 
so to my sister and myself, for our hearts were 
full of vague misgivings, and uncertainty as to 
what the future held in store for us. 

Mrs. Henry remained with my sister a few 
hours after my departure, and then took an up- 
country train for her own home. The few other 
patients, who remained in the hospital through 
our recent financial difficulties, were discharged 
on the day before our leave-taking. 

Thus we bade a tearful good-bye to my dar- 
ling sister Willa, to Mrs, Moses' dear mother, to 
our precious children, to our mutual friend, Mrs. 
Henry, and to our beloved Khetwadi Castle, 
where we had experienced so many happy days, 
and had so thoroughly enjoyed our labors for the 
blessed Master. 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

A FAILURE ? 

Dear Eeader, knowing the whole truth as you 
do, having reviewed my work from the nursery 
of Khetwadi Castle to the lowest slums of Bom- 
bay native city, accompanying me in my medi- 
cal rounds, through my consulting office, exam- 
ining and operating rooms in the Castle, from 
one sweeper district in the native city to another, 
among the servants, student nurses, adopted 
babies and guests, do you find naught in your 
heart but censure ? Do you unite with our ad- 
versaries and critics in pronouncing it all a mon- 
strous mistake ? Do you concur with them in 
the opinion that our methods and procedure, 
from the beginning to the end, were naught but 
a succession of blunders, that the whole thing 
was a misguided effort made in the wrong direc- 
tion, which therefore necessarily culminated in 
an utter, inglorious and irretrievable failure ? 

It is not my purpose here to attempt to justify 
my own life, or any part of it. One thing only 
T feel that I must say, in barest justice to my- 
self: from the beginning to the end, I was 
actuated by one motive, was impelled by one 
overwhelming, all-absorbing desire ; to do the will 
of my blessed Master, to accomplish the mission 
whereunto He had caUed me, and to serve Him 

(393; 



394 KHETWADI CASTLE 

efficiently and well throughout every hour and 
day of my life. To do this I exercised my very 
best judgment in every undertaking, I sought 
divine guidance continually, day and night, and 
undertook nothing without earnest prayer for 
direction, inspiration and help. 

On the 15th day of June, 1887, when I first en- 
tered Khetwadi Castle, and before my sister and 
Dr. and Mrs. Stone had arrived, I kneeled down 
on the bare, unmatted floor of my office, which 
was at that time without an article of furniture, 
and reconsecrated my hfe to God, invoking His 
help in all that I might undertake to do while 
residing in this new home. The Castle itself I 
endeavored to dedicate to Him, and to His ser- 
vice. That same evening, when my sister ar- 
rived, she and I knelt together in the same place, 
renewed our consecration, and sought divine 
help and guidance in our new undertaking. 

Afterward, during my residence in the Castle, 
I never began any task, never adopted any child, 
never undertook the care of any invalid, the 
treatment of any disease, nor began any surgi- 
cal operation, without first kneehng by my 
patient, or in my room, and invoking divine wis- 
dom, skill, tact, judgment, and guidance in that 
particular undertaking. 

Never once in my life have I undertaken a 
single surgical operation, without first praying 
about it in private, and afterward praying with 
my patient, that God might guide and control 
in all that was to be done. As the result, as I 



A FAILURE? 395 

believe, of this dependence upon God for help, I 
have never yet experienced even a partial failure 
in any surgical work, have lost but one surgical 
patient, and that was not a direct result of the 
operation, have never had a rise of temperature 
after an operation, except in this one case, never 
had a drop of pus to form, nor a stitch fail to 
unite. All this in a tropical climate like India, 
where the intense heat renders surgical work 
extremely hazardous ; and notwithstanding the 
fact that I have performed almost every surgical 
operation which is known to the profession in 
these latter days. While in India I never had any 
medical assistance during any surgical operation, 
nor even the presence of a physician to share 
with me the responsibility, having my sister 
only, who always administered the ether; and 
the nurses whom I myself had trained. I do 
not say this boastfully, but merely as a proof of 
the divine presence and help which 1 have experi- 
enced in answer to earnest prayer during all my 
professional life. 

True, had I gone to India under the auspices 
of the Parent Board of our Methodist Episcopal 
Church, no such financial catastrophe as that 
experienced in Khetwadi Castle, could have be- 
fallen me. Had I been sent to India by the 
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of our 
church, I should have been safe from any such 
failure. In either case my regular monthly sal- 
ary would have been sufficient to maintain my- 
self and family; all my private earnings, from 



396 KHETWADI CASTLE 

the practice of my profession, would have been 
paid back to the society under whose auspices I 
labored ; and would have been expended in the 
missionary field, according to their direction, all 
bills being paid as they were incurred. 

When the mission work grew to such enormous 
proportions, as my work in Khetwadi Castle did, 
the society would have supplied me with several 
missionary assistants, and thus my health would 
not have suffered from the undue strain. A 
mission, such as mine, required four, five or six 
regular missionaries, in order to discharge all the 
duties efficiently, and without any one being 
overworked, or broken down in health. Instead 
of this, the whole reponsibility rested upon one 
individual, and the labor and care involved were 
enough to undermine any constitution. 

Even as it was, laboring upon the self-support- 
ing basis, the financial catastrophe described in 
foregoing pages might yet have been averted had 
I possessed the business tact, foresight and 
worldly prudence to curtail my missionary and 
charity enterprises, during my days of prosper- 
ity, laying by a certain portion of my earnings 
against any possible future emergency, illness, 
or the hke. 

This I might have done, this I should have 
done, in all justice to myself and to my own 
work ; but, alas, I had not such worldly-wis- 
dom. I, too, can see it all noiv, when it is too 
late to change or alter the past ; my mistakes are 
palpable to my own eyes, and what " I might 



A FAILURE? 397 

have done ' ' is clearly discerned by me ; but then, 
I was so perfectly well and strong, so full of life, 
vigor and endurance, and so hardy, that I 
thought myself made of iron. It seemed impos- 
sible that I could ever break down, while engaged 
in an occupation which was a pure and unmixed 
deMght to me in all its many phases. 

Then, too, within myself I reflected on this 
wise : " I did not study medicine for its own 
sake, merely that I might practice the profes- 
sion and enjoy the doing of it. I did not come 
to India merely to practice my profession, I might 
have done that in my own native land. I did 
not come to India to amass a fortune, or to live 
in luxury, or to lay up money for old age or a 
rainy day. I came in obedience to a divine caU, 
in order that I might spend and be spent for God 
and suffering humanity — to do the will of God, 
and to serve my kind. ' ' 

While thus employed I was completely, per- 
fectly, continually happy and satisfied; and it 
seemed impossible to me that I could ever be 
otherwise, or that any real harm could come to 
me while thus engaged in the Master's service. 
Why this financial difficulty should have been 
permitted to come upon me, I know not — God 
does know, and sometime I shall know.* Mean- 

*A11 things are either caused, or permitted by God. Why 
Bishop Thoburn was permitted to persecute me so unmercifully ; 
and to ruin my business in Bombay, I do not know. Certain it 
is that, had he not done so, I should, in all human probability, 
have continued to prosper in Khetwadi Castle, as I did before his 
arrival in Bombay. 



398 KHETWADI CASTLE 

while, criticise me if you must, and as severely 
as you like, it does not matter; but, while you 
criticise me, do not forget the poor people for 
whom I labored. 

It is not for me to say just what you ought to do. 
I cannot point out your specific duty; but, cer- 
tainly, you have a duty toward these poor suffer- 
ing ones in far off India. 

If you are a Christian, if you have taken up- 
on yourself the name of the blessed Christ, then 
go to your closet, shut and bolt the door ; and, 
on your knees, remember aU that you have read 
about the squalid poverty, the awful ignorance, 
the appalling superstition, and the crying need 
which, through other eyes, you have seen in the 
slums of Bombay native city. Then ask God 
Almighty to point out to you what He would 
have you do. Ask Him to reveal to you your 
duty toward them. His Indian children. 

Perhaps he may call you to go as a missionary 
to some foreign field. 

Perhaps He ngiay require you to sacrifice some- 
what of your luxuries, somewhat of your com- 
fort, somewhat of that which you call the neces- 
saries of life, in order that the Gospel message 
may be carried to these dark depths of heathen 
slums. I know not what answer you may re- 
ceive from Him ; but Oh, find out. Go to Him 
in secret, and alone. Cry unto Him mightily, 
until you know and are sure just what He would 
have you to do. 

You say you are poor ? I teU you, there is no 



A FAILURE ? 399 

poverty in this blessed Christian land of Amer- 
ica. You say, we are having hard times here ? 
I tell you, there is no such thing as hard times 
in this country. Before going to India I did city 
mission vp^ork in the slums of Chicago, and also 
in the slums of New York City ; and I thought 
I knew what awful, squalid poverty was like ; 
but I assure you, I never saw real poverty, ap- 
paUing poverty, until I visited the slums of Bom- 
bay native city, and the sweeper districts there. 

But suppose you are poor; suppose you hve in 
one tiny room, ten feet square, that you have 
no carpet, no matting on the floor, no pictures 
on the walls, no furntiure in the room, no table 
from which to eat ; that you have but one meal 
a day, and it consists of the same two articles 
for every meal, the year around ; no knives or 
forks or dishes, no proper cook stove — you can- 
not afford any such luxuries as these, because 
you are poor. Your salary is only one and a half 
to five dollars per month, and with this small 
sum you are obliged to support a large family. 
Suppose this to be your exact financial status; 
yet, I assure you, you are rich and happy. 

You still have a home. You know what a 
true Christian home is like. The wife, hus- 
band, brothers, sisters and children in your home 
love each other. You know what it is to feel 
the sympathy of a warm, true friend. You are 
familiar with the warm hand- clasp, the close 
embrace, the tender kiss, and the loving caress of 
those who are dearer to you than hfe. 



400 KHETWADI CASTLE 

More than this, much more, you hve in a free 
land, in a Christian land; you hear the church 
bell's joyous ring every Sabbath day, calling 
you to the house of God. You have many edu- 
cational advantages. You have God's blessed 
Word to read; and you are able to peruse its 
sacred pages, without molestation or disturbance 
of any kind. Its blessed promises are for you. 
You know what it is to pray, and to receive a 
direct, immediate and blessed answer to your 
petition. 

Nay, more, much more, you have the indwell- 
ing, abiding presence of the Triune God contin- 
ually. You have the testimony of the Spirit, 
witnessing with your soul that you are a child of 
God, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Jesus 
Christ. You have ' ' an inheritance incorruptable, 
and undefiled, and that f adeth not away, reserved 
in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of 
God through faith unto salvation, ready to be 
revealed at the last time." You are of royal 
birth. Your Father is " King of kings, and 
Lord of lords ", and the only true God. 

What more can you ask ? All these are priv- 
ileges and advantages which you alone possess ; 
but which are unknown to these poor mortals of 
heathendom. Do you still say that you are poor ? 
That you know hard times ? 

O Brother, Sister, Friend, away to your closet, 
and pray. Pray for India, pray for her millions 
who are yet out of Christ, who know not what 
home is, as you know it; who know not what 



A FAILURE? 401 

love is, as you feel it; who have no Bible, no 
Christ, no Holy Ghost, no Heaven, no everlast- 
ing inheritance, no divine earthly legacy, no joy, 
no hope. 

Give, if you have to give. Give all that you 
can give. Give until you feel it, until you suffer 
for it, until you sacrifice and feel a loss; and 
then count it a joy to suffer thus for Christ's 
sake, and for the sake of poor, perishing, suffer- 
ing humanity. 

If you have naught to give, if you are so 
wretchedly, squalidly poor, that you have not a 
thing which you can sacrifice, nothing which 
you can do without, there yet remains some- 
thing which you can do for God, and for India — 
pray! When the labors of the day are done, 
when your friends have departed and you are 
left alone, then go to your room and pray, earn- 
estly, tearfully, prevailingly, that God may send 
the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ to these per- 
ishing souls. Pray all night, until the morning. 

Do you think that too much to ask ? If you 
were there, and situated as the sweepers of 
Bombay are situated, and they were here in your 
happy circumstances, would you think it too 
much for them to spend one whole night in 
prayer to God for you ? Yea, spend one night, 
two nights, three nights — one night in every 
week in earnest, importunate, prevailing prayer 
to God that His salvation may reach to the dark- 
est depths of heathen slums ! 

END OF VOLUME II. 



mnn a ** 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS g) 



029 897 581 6 



liiiMKili'! 



